Nations Cup squad announced for home leg of 2019 series

Andrew James wins the Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round at Chard Equestrian Centre

Harry Bateman lands the Connolly?s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at Wellington

British Masters International 2019

Kitty King galloped to victory riding Camilla and Alex Wakeley's   Cristal Fontaine in the international class at Nunney International Horse Trials where hundreds of competitors provided an action packed three days of competition for spectators.

Statement from BE Interim CEO, Jude Matthews;

British Eventing is very sad to learn that Tom Ryckewaert (BEL) passed away at the age of 63.

Equerry Grand Prix Victory for Belgium?s Rik Hemeryk

Fantastic Treble for Georgia at Bolesworth International

Tony Scores a Hat-trick at Bolesworth International

Major Win for Young Sophie

Georgia Comes Up Trumps Again

It was another CCI5*-L win for New Zealand’s Tim Price, lifting the trophy at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, Germany, on Ben and Lucy Sangster, Suzanne Houchin and Peter Vela’s Ascona M.

Turbo Charged Porsche Ride and Drive

Kayleigh Celebrates Bolesworth Victory

Vintage Whitaker Performance at Bolesworth International

Lila Makes an Impression at Bolesworth

Harry Makes His Mark at Bolesworth

Ben Maher & Emily Moffitt Defeat Empire in Olympic Stadium Showdown

The following rider has been selected to represent Great Britain this week in the U25 divisions at Stockholm CDI3*/CDIU25 in Sweden (13 – 16 June 2019). Ellie McCarthy from Hampshire with Bridget McCarthy’s Belafonte (chestnut, gelding, 15yrs, s. Belissimo M ds. Wendekreis). Ellie and Belafonte are enjoying a good show so far, having achieved fourth place in yesterday’s U25 Grand Prix, and go at 9.15 (8.15 UK time) in Saturday's U25 Grand Prix Freestyle. Event website Start lists and results Photo © MalinPhoto.se

Three Cheers for Bolesworth Puissance

Holly Sets Her Heart on a Win

DON?T MISS A MOMENT OF THE AL SHIRA?AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING

Impressive Victory for Kerry and Wellington M

Georgia Leads a British Clean Sweep

All refunds of entry fees in respect of Eglinton Horse Trials, scheduled to take place on Saturday 8 June, have now been processed. Please note that it may take up to 10 days for funds to show in bank accounts.

Further to yesterday’s notification, BE Officials have inspected the site this afternoon and unfortunately it will not be possible for the competition to go ahead on Saturday or Sunday. The ground remains saturated and with the current weather conditions will not dry sufficiently. Some of the fences on the cross country course are on waterlogged ground and it will not be possible for emergency vehicles to move around the site.

 

It was a perfect day at the office for Charlotte Dujardin despite the continued wet and grey conditions at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show as she took both the Theraplate UK Grand Prix Special and the Equitop Myoplast Grand Prix Freestyle to complete a Boleswoth hattrick. The morning’s Special was a perfect chance to put some of the potential team members for this year’s FEI European Championships in Rotterdam head to head and measure where they are in their training. Gareth Hughes upset the equilibrium for some with his second place yesterday riding his wife Rebecca’s Classic Briolinca and today’s test looked like it could do the same. There were no major mistakes for a clear round with some very strong piaffe/passage work despite the Trento B mare not having much experience of the test. The judges rewarded it with 76.78%, just shy of their PB they scored when winning the Special in Compiegne in May but it did give them the lead. Emile Faurie was next to go with Hof Kasselmann’s newest star, Café’s Caletta, in only the mare’s fourth international and her first ever Special. Originally bred and produced to show jump, she posted 70.65% in the GP yesteday and was sixth in hot company and today she looked more at home in the expansive Bolesworth International arena. A few green mistakes in the technically demanding test lead to 69.31% but there’s so much more to come as this partnership develops and she becomes more established. Next was the turn of Charlotte and yesterday’s Grand Prix victor, Emma and Jill Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle and again it was breathtaking to watch. The ‘ring’ rustiness’ of yesterday put behind them and Charlotte said she ‘had a word with herself’ after overriding yesterday. Just a late transition from walk to passage was the only blip – and it was minor. The canter pirouettes were captivating, half passes with extreme reach and trademark Dujardin transitions…just a privilege to watch. Judge at E Peter Storr awarded three four tens – both halts, the right canter pirouette and for her riding. A massive 82.97% was the score – a new PB and over 1.5% more than her previous best. Henriette Andersen followed with her own Florencio I sired Flavio with a pleasing test which the judges hovered around the 6.5 to 7.0 mark throughout to score 69.8%, enough to go ahead of Emile. The final rider was Carl Hester with Lady Anne Evans, Ann Cory and his own Hawtins Delicato and they upped their game more today with Carl riding with more ‘joie de vivre’. An agitated first halt, a missed change at the start of the line of two times and a flat change at the end of the extended canter diagonal were the only errors. The test was just more naturally forward with a bit more attack which the judges rewarded well with 78.93% - a new PB in a day of new records – to go second behind Charlotte and Freestyle. After the prizegiving, Charlotte said; “I’ve not put that test [the Special] together at home but I watched the video of WEG so I knew what I wanted to recreate. Yesterday I was disappointed with myself as I overrode but today I was more relaxed and realized I needed to do less. She felt fantastic but I didn’t ride on full power and to say she can score like that is incredible. For her to extend like that and then come back to the extreme of passage feels incredible. And she does it through her body not tension and she’s so elastic, like a rubber ball. “I have to be careful as a rider not to overdo it as she tries to give me more than I need. In the walk to piaffe movement I just tried to sit quietly but it didn’t happen but that was our only mistake really. When you have a ride like that and feel they’ve given everything gives you such a buzz and it quite emotional.” Carl was clearly pleased with today’s performance; “Today everything came together and the score was where I wanted it to be; he felt so much better than yesterday. His piaffe and passage were so much better and I’m pleased my plan [of four shows in four weeks] has paid off. Sadly our mistakes were in the easy stuff but I got three good piaffes from him and the easy things can be fixed. Doing four competitions in a row has really changed the horses, and me! I’m really in to it and it’s paid off…as painful as it’s been!” Always with an eye on the Championships, Carl added; “Results like yesterday and today are so important for the team. I’ve always said that it’s not good enough to have one rider to rely on. Now were here with three new horses that can score 75% plus and Gareth beating me yesterday is only a plus for the team going forward.” Third placed Gareth was also in buoyant mood after a good performance; “I’m very happy. She was so consistent and actually took me by surprise by feeling a bit lazy in there. It’s so exciting; she doesn’t have the biggest paces naturally but this test, which she’s not done much, really opens her up and improves the extended paces. It’s a difficult test but in a different way to the Grand Prix which is technically difficult but this [the Special] is physically demanding. But she’s so strong in the piaffe and passage it really suits her.” The Equitop Mypolast Freestyle followed after a slightly delayed start as result of the arena PA system giving up but the ever efficient Bolesworth team quickly had us up and running. Danish rider Ulrik Moelgaard set the early benchmark with his loyal partner now 18 year old Michigan, owned by Claus Munkedal, who danced to their upbeat Jackson Five medley to score 73.83%. He was followed by Charlotte Dujardin, this time riding Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz, riding to her favourite ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ music. Although it was mixed for Valegro, it’s perfect for the spritely ‘Erly’. It was a pleasure to watch with Charlotte clearly enjoying being able to ride without pressure and her equine partner so eager to please. No mistakes, every change on the beat and the perfect mix of difficulty set to an artistic floorplan. The judges scored a massive 84.1%...huge. The highest score she’s received since the days of Valegro and it was well deserved. Richard Davison elected for the Freestyle with Gwendolyn Meyer’s Bubblingh, giving us the chance to watch his unique routine set to a variety of music including Robbie Williams and Gangsta’s Paradise. ‘Bubbles’ improves with each outing and 78.78% was just reward for a job well done to go second, their best score together and Richard’s highest ever mark internationally in all his years of competing. Charlotte was beaming after prizegiving with Erly – it could have been that she finally had chance to do a lap of honour as all the ceremonies up until then had been unmounted in hospitality – or maybe it was the magical performance. “I just love riding this little horse!” she said. “He’s so much fun and just tries so hard. It was one of those tests where everything went to plan and I just didn’t want it to end. I’m not looking forward to the day when Sonnar is ready to have him back as, there may be tears!” Sadly, the remainder of the show which now focuses on show jumping will take place behind closed doors as the already saturated ground won’t drain to safely park the public – but you can watch via www.britishequestriansport.tv . Full results – click here

Hester wins Grand Prix at Wellington Premier League

Yesterday, the Princess Royal officially opened the first National Training Centre for Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) in Warwickshire. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne is President of the RDA and a patron of the centre which will bring together, train and inspire the charity’s volunteers and coaches from almost 500 RDA centres across the UK. The opening event, sponsored by Childs Farm, coincided with the 50th anniversary of the charity, which is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through horse riding and carriage driving. The RDA’s new home is based at Lowlands Equestrian Centre, in Shrewley, and the charity is aiming to deliver an important service across Warwickshire. The centre already provides horse riding opportunities to 100 disabled children and adults in the county – a number the charity hopes to double in the coming months – while Lowlands also offers group and private riding lessons to the public, while proving a popular venue to hire. Princess Anne, who spoke to riders and presented rosettes during her visit, said: “RDA has built a world-class reputation on the strength of its expertise, coaching and horsemanship. These are strengths that must remain at the heart of everything we do in the coming years. “The Lowlands project will ensure we can maintain our high standards and develop our training programmes to ensure the best possible experience for RDA’s riders and carriage drivers long into the future. “As RDA looks forward to the next 50 years, this national training centre will draw on all the experience and strength of community in RDA to create a vital and inspirational focal point for learning of which we can all be proud.” Over recent years, the charity, which helps 25,000 disabled children and adults, has further developed the range of activities it offers as well as the areas of training provided to volunteers – including equine welfare, safeguarding, disability awareness and volunteer management. In addition, the RDA’s 18,000 qualified coaches and volunteers are supporting ever more complex forms of disability, especially in the areas of multi-disability, learning disabilities and mental health problems. Paralympian superstar Sophie Christiansen CBE, who boasts eight Paralympic gold medals, is also a patron of the new centre – a commitment made in recognition of her local RDA centre in Berkshire, which helped her rise to stardom. “As someone whose life was transformed by learning to ride with RDA, I am delighted to be able to support this national training centre,” she said. “I was lucky enough to be taught by a series of inspirational coaches, without whom I would never have discovered a talent for riding. “RDA could see my potential as a young athlete and supported me every step of the way to the Paralympics. However, ‘achievement’ does not have to mean a gold medal. It could be teaching a rider to sit up straight so they can go on to live independently or to be able to communicate to others to help on the journey to employment. Coaches can change lives.” The centre is home to the four existing RDA groups which currently operate there, plus stables and grazing for 20 horses, indoor and outdoor arenas and training and conference facilities. The charity’s staff team will also relocate to the site. It also boasts a working yard with indoor and outdoor arenas and classrooms to provide the ideal environment for hosting practical training sessions, workshops and demonstrations as well as events and competitions. The focus of training will be putting riders’ and drivers’ needs first, and the RDA insists that this message will be at the heart of everything that happens at Lowlands. For more information on RDA, please visit: www.rda.org.uk .

Jumping Gets Underway at Bolesworth International in Thrilling Fashion

Keith and his Lady Hit Top Form

As part of her visit, the Princess Royal officially opened the new RDA National Training Centre at Lowlands Equestrian Centre in Warwickshire.

Sadly all competition at Catton Park on Saturday 15 June has been abandoned due to the recent persistent rainfall.

British Eventing are delighted to announce that a total of 12 BE Accredited Coaches have achieved their UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) endorsed, British Eventing Coaching Certificate (BECC) qualifications.

Warwick Hall (2) in Cumbria has taken a full entry for this weekend’s competition and Joint Organiser Douglas Weymouth has reported ground conditions are very good with plenty of grass cover, and preparations are all complete for the weekend ahead (15-16 June). 

Alexander Bragg leads the way for Great Britain at the Longines CCI5*-L in Luhmühlen , Germany, with a further three Brits occupying a spot in the top ten.

Charlotte Dujardin made a welcome return to the competition arena with Emma and Jill Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle in the Theraplate UK Grand Prix as part of the CDI3* at The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show in challenging wet conditions. The ten year old Fiedermark sired mare looked delighted to be back and despite the heavy rain and dull conditions, their performance lit up the Castle Arena. There was a slight miscommunication at the start of the first passage/piaffe tour but apart from that, it was clear that the time off has benefited the combination to mature and develop. The judges panel were unanimous in declaring them the winners with an aggregate score of 80.34% - a new international personal best for the duo as it’s the first time they’ve broken the 80% barrier in the Grand Prix. A delighted Charlotte said; “I have to admit I was a bit nervous going in. It all felt a bit ring rusty but she was really good. She’s been great at home so it’s good to be back out. Considering she’s not been in the ring for such a long time it was amazing; she was so enthusiastic. She just tries so hard and I over-rode the first passage so he was really reactive. “She just feels now like she needs a few more tests; she’s still so inexperienced. Alan and I had a little tear on the way out as it just felt special to be out again. It’s been a bit testing with the weather but I’m over the moon with her. I felt I wanted to do so well but big or small, she does it all!” Behind Charlotte and Freestyle, it was the battle of the 75% scorers but the best was Gareth Hughes with wife Rebecca’s Classic Briolinca. The duo was still flying high from their performance at Compiengne CDIO a matter of weeks ago and today’s Grand Prix was even better. There was just a blip at the start of the one time changes but the rest was fairly fault free. Halts nailed, stunning piaffe and great reach in the half passes all contributed towards 75.76%. Gareth was overheard to say ‘that wasn’t on the script, I was supposed to be fourth!’. Nothing is ever a given in dressage and rarely is there a script! Charlotte finished in third with her ‘borrowed’ ride, Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz. The pairing really wowed at Windsor in May and that form showed again today. Charlotte is deputizing for Sonnar while he mends from a broken leg but each time she competes with ‘Erly’, the likelihood of him being returned diminishes! It was a worrying time in the warm up when Erly knocked himself but a quick check by Team GBR vet Andre and lots of walking and they were good to go. The test was packed full of energy – almost a little too much at times where the aids for flying changes were misinterpreted but everything was a pleasure to watch and the score was 75.71%, just 0.05 behind Gareth. Charlotte told us; “We had an issue in the warm up when he kicked himself so I did a lot of walking but I’m really happy with him. He’s more confident and braver in the arena. I clipped him thinking it was going to be warm here and he’s been really sensitive since, particularly in the changes so that’s where our mistakes were. I don’t feel the pressure with him and he’s so much fun to ride.” Fourth spot went to Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato, owned by Carl with Lady Anne Evans and Ann Cory and today ‘Del’ was a bit on his toes which lead to some tension and Carl to ride economically. A mistake in the one time changes kept the score in check but they finished on 75.6%, just 0.11 adrift. The morning got underway early with the Owens Horseboxes five year old trial which was won by Lucinda Elliot with Judith Davis’s Hawtins Lirica (Lemony’s Nicket x Dimaggio) on an outstanding 81.81 while in the six year old division, supported by The Brooke, victory went to Alex Harwick riding her own Izaloe (Jazz x Rhodium). The final combination in the Braabners seven year old trial took the honours – that was Elizabeth Allen with her own Heraldik (Uphill x Silvano N) on 71.94. There was also an invitational Advanced Medium class, supported by Rawson Digital and Sarah Higgins took the top two spots with her rides Elixer, owned by Ellie Barlow, and Penny Lindop’s Easter Bunny II on 70.52% and 68.94% respectively. The climax of the day was the CDI small tour Inter I Freestyle, sponsored by British Dressage. First to go, Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu set 69.6% with her first ride, Jockey Club Fuerst on Tour and it proved a difficult mark to beat. That was until Carl Hester had his turn. He claimed last night’s Prix St Georges with the British bred chestnut mare Brioso who he owns with Andrew Fletcher and Charlotte Dujardin and he was focused on a small tour double. A lively routine set to equally lively music with a clever, flowing floor plan was a winner, scoring 78.52%. Carl was clearly delighted with the nine year old who he found in a local point to point yard as a four year old. “She’s just sensational to ride. In three weeks we’ve gone from wild at Somerford, improving at Wellington and then amazing here – she’s gone up the ladder tenfold. She’s classy, supple, athletic and uphill – just so nice to sit on. I’d even say she’s the nicest horse in the mouth I’ve ever ridden. I just enjoy riding her; I don’t have to worry, she’s owned by friends and if I’m loving it, they love it too. I just adore her, she’s a proper diva!” Luis Principle, last to go with RS Raphael for Portugal, stole into second with 75.8% while Jessica Dunn and Alicante Valley, owned by Jennifer Whittaker, completed the podium on 74.2%. Sadly the hard-working organising team at Bolesworth have taken the extremely difficult decision to close the show to the public for the rest of the week due to the waterlogged land – it just isn’t safe to park cars. The competition will go on and specators can watch via www.britishequestriansport.tv . Full results and times for tomorrow’s GP Special and GP Freestyle – click here

The great and good of British para dressage took centre stage during the first two days of the Wellington Premier League show in Heckfield, Hampshire (5 – 10 June 2019). The Waterloo Arena was the setting for the semi finals of the Equissage Pulse Para Gold Championships which attracted many of the country’s top riders competing for a coveted place at the LeMieux National Championships at Stoneleigh in September. Grade V Three-star eventer turned para dressage rider Charlotte Cundall claimed the Grade V Team Test on day one with Henrietta Cheetham’s Danish 10 year old, LJT Simply Red. She scored 69.593%, enough to have the edge over her second-placed ride, BamBam (69.244%). Charlotte, from North Yorkshire, was one of our leading ladies at Randbøl CPEDI3* in Denmark earlier this year when the British won the Nations Cup. Charlotte’s Randbøl teammate, Sophie Wells, was untouchable in the following day’s Individual, scoring 75.774% with Charlotte Hoggs’s C Fatal Attraction aka Jorge. “[We had] A good day at Wellington Riding yesterday for the Para Semi Final. Jorge did a good test to win with 75.7%,” said Sophie on Facebook . “Big well done to Charlotte Cundall for her second place, well deserved, she works so hard in every area to improve performance and is a lovely friend.” Grade IV Katie Radzik and her Florencio x Balder 12 year old C’est La Vie were victorious in the Grade IV Team Test. The contenders from Kent earned a solid 67% ahead of second-placed Rachel Collins and Finetime (by Fifty Cent). The Grade IV Individual belonged to Nicky Greenhill with her husband Gary’s King Edward I, a black 11 year old she has partnered since 2015. Nicky who is visually impaired and relies on husband Gary calling the markers to navigate the arena, took to Facebook to say, “Super proud of Eddie today winning the Semi Finals at Wellington on +71%. So much love for this horse it’s ridiculous!” Grade III Erin Orford, who was celebrating a birthday during the show, added to the festivities with a double of wins aboard her two rides. She took the Team test with her 2017 FEI European Championships and 2018 WEG partner, Dior UKH, and won the Individual with new ride LJT Diamond Crusador (pictured) scoring 72.20% and 74.92% respectively. Diamond Crusador aka Loki is a handsome six year old Diamond Hit gelding owned by the Lady Joseph Trust. He joined Erin’s stable in March this year and she describes him as ‘an exciting addition to the team’. Grade II Georgia Wilson and her British-bred mare, Midnight II, showed all the quality that led to their selection as reserves for WEG 2018. The pair from Wales, who train with Sophie Wells, enjoyed a convincing win in the Grade II Team test with a mark of plus-71%. Julie Payne who famously won triple gold with Athene Lindebjerg at the 2017 Europeans was on top form with long-term ride Pandora. Pandora has been a faithful servant to Julie and at the age of 18 years young is looking as good as ever. The established pair won the Grade II Individual convincingly with 74.191%. Grade I Mari Durward-Akhurst and Sky O’Hara won the Team and Individual with 71.16% and 72.23% respectively. Sky O’Hara, a 20 year old Welt Hit II gelding owned by Glesni Owen has been Mari’s competition partner since 2012 and they're the reigning Equissage Pulse Para Gold Grade I Champions. Mari is looking forward to defending her title at Stoneleigh and what’s more, she has two rides qualified having secured the Individual test runner-up spot with her 10 year old Laudabilis gelding, Lebensfreude who's affectionately known as ‘Bear’. “I do not think the fact that I came first and second yesterday has sunk in yet” said Mari on Facebook . “Or the fact that I got over 70% with Bear and 72%+ with Sky! Or the fact that I have qualified both boys for the Gold Nationals! Hard work really does pay off and I cannot thank my team enough! British Dressage thanks Niagara Equissage for their sponsorship of the Equissage Pulse Para Dressage Championships and the team at Wellington Riding for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below and to all those who took part. The winners: Wednesday 5 June Class 1: Equissage Pulse Grade V Team Test Charlotte Cundall with LJT Simply Red, 69.593% Class 2: Equissage Pulse Grade IV Team Test Katie Radzik with C’est La Vie, 67.000% Class 3: Equissage Pulse Grade III Team Test Erin Orford with Dior UKH, 72.206% Class 4: Equissage Pulse Grade II Team Test Georgia Wilson with Midnight II, 71.061% Class 5: Equissage Pulse Grade I Team Test Mari Durward-Akhurst with Sky O’Hara, 71.161% Thursday 6 June Class 10: Equissage Pulse Grade V Individual Test Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction. 75.774% Class 11: Equissage Pulse Grade IV Individual Test Nicky Greenhill with King Edward I, 71.159% Class 12: Equssage Pulse Grade III Individual Test Erin Orford with LJT Diamond Crusador, 74.926% Class 13: Equissage Pulse Grade II Individual Test Julie Payne with Pandora, 74.191% Class 14: Equissage Pulse Grade I Individual Test Mari Durward-Akhurst with Sky O’Hara, 72.232% For full results follow this link .

With FEI 5* judges Isobel Wessels and Clive Halsall, plus FEI 4* judge and BD Judges Director Peter Storr lined up to present this year’s Principles of Judging Seminar, the BD Training and Education team is delighted to release the complete timetable for the weekend. Visit Moulton College on Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 October 2019 to benefit from the wealth of expertise shared between our three hosts. All members are welcome, whether rider, coach, judge, owner, breeder or supporter, non-judge tickets allow access to the live arena demonstrations taking place in the Moulton College Indoor throughout the weekend.  The arena sessions will be test riding discussion and development focused, with the added opportunity for those in the audience to enjoy an interative element by scoring and commenting throughout demonstrations. Listed and trainee judges also have access to exclusive lecture theatre sessions where Isobel, Clive and Peter will further delve into discussion on the specific talking points detailed in the timetable.  Saturday 6th October 10.00 - 10.45  Indoor Arena  - Quality of Paces  All       10.45 Comfort break         11.00 - 12.00 Indoor Arena  - Elementary 59: Discuss and Develop  List 4 - 3a Sports Hall  - Understanding the Way of Going and Quality of Paces Trainee - List 5       12.00 Comfort break         12.15 - 13.15 Indoor Arena  - Intro C: Discuss and Develop Trainee - List 5 Sports Hall  - Lateral Work List 4 - 3a       13.15 - 14.15 Lunch         14.15 - 15.15 Indoor Arena  - Medium 75: Discuss and Develop List 4 - 3a Sports Hall  - Scale of Marks and Summing up Trainee - List 5       15.15 Comfort break         15.30 - 16.30 Indoor Arena  - Prelim 17: Discuss and Develop Trainee - List 5 Sports Hall  - Walk and Walk Pirouettes List 4 - 3a Sunday 7 October 2018 10.00 - 10.45  Indoor Arena  - Way of going All       10.45 Comfort break         11.00 - 12.00 Indoor Arena  - Adv Med 98: Discuss and Develop  List 4 - 3a Sports Hall  - Expectations of transitions and differences within the paces Trainee - List 5       12.00 Comfort break         12.15 - 13.15 Indoor Arena  - Novice 37a: Discuss and Develop Trainee - List 5 Sports Hall  - Simple changes and flying changes List 4 - 3a       13.15 - 14.15 Lunch         14.15 - 15.15 Indoor Arena  - PSG: Discuss and Develop List 4 - 3a Sports Hall  - Preparation for panel judging and practice judge P19, N37a and E59 Trainee - List 5       15.15 Comfort break         15.30 - 16.30 Indoor Arena  - Elementary 59: Discuss and Develop Trainee - List 5 Sports Hall  - Preparation for panel judging and practice judge M75, AM98 and PSG List 4 - 3a There’s only two days left to benefit from the early bird ticket discounts, buy your tickets online here or call the Training and Education team to book over the phone on 02476 698831.

*Important announcement from the Bolesworth Team*

Melanie Scott appointed as new Northern Development Officer

*IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR BOLESWORTH INTERNATIONAL*

Former BEF Chief Medical Officer awarded MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

British Eventing is delighted to bring an exciting, money can’t buy experience to BE members* with top British Event rider Gemma Tattersall. Forty lucky members will be selected at random to attend a free yard visit day at Gemma’s Sussex base on Wednesday 31 July.

Emma Hindle and Romy Del Sol posted top results amongst strong company at Wiesbaden CDI4* in Germany (7 – 10 June 2019). Sunday’s Grand Prix for Special featured a high-powered field, with Katrina Wüst (GER), Peter Hansaghy (HUN), Isobel Wessels (GBR), Oliver Smeets (BEL) and Henning Lehrmann (GER) in the judges’ seats. The class was ultimately won by German maestro Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, with Matthias Alexander Rath and Foundation and Dorothee Schneider with Pathetique making a German one-two-three. A cracking score of 71.06% however placed Emma and her Blue Hors Romanov x Danny De Vito mare (pictured last year) within tantalisingly close reach of the home nation’s leading trio. In 2018, Emma made a plan to go ‘on tour’, taking Romy Del Sol out into the world and exposing her to new environments. It’s a plan that’s certainly paying off. The horse is more secure in her work, Emma can ride for the higher marks, and their trademark harmony is being recognised and rewarded by the judges. The CDI, which takes place in front of the magnificent baroque backdrop of the Biebrich Palace, continued into Monday. In yesterday’s Grand Prix Special, Emma went one better to take third behind Werth and Schneider on a solid mark of 71.53%. Her compatriot Laura Tomlinson with her own and Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s fabulous Rhodium x San Remo stallion, Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, also climbed the ranks. Some mistakes in the Grand Prix kept their score in check for seventh but a super Grand Prix Special for 70.63% earned fourth for this exciting combination. The Grand Prix for Freestyle and Grand Prix Freestyle were won by Germany’s Ingrid Klimke with the 11 year old Hanoverian stallion, Franziskus (Fidertanz x Alabaster) on scores of 74.26% and 80.68% respectively. Above: Laura Tomlinson and Duval's Capri Sonne Jr en route to seventh in the Grand Prix Results of the British riders: Grand Prix (qualification for Special) 1st Isabell Werth with DSP Quantaz, 75.087% (GER) 4th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 71.065% (GBR) 7th Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, 67.543% (GBR) Grand Prix Special 1st Isabell Werth with DSP Quantaz, 76.255% (GER) 3rd Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 71.532% (GBR) 4th Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, 70.638% (GBR) For full results follow this link . Photo © Kevin Sparrow

On only their second big tour appearance, hot prospects Charlotte Fry and Van Olst Horses' Everdale once again showed much promise for Great Britain with two top-three placings at Kronenberg CDI3* in the Netherlands (7 – 10 June 2019). The rising partnership achieved third in Friday’s Grand Prix behind the Belgian combinations of Fanny Verliefden with Indoctro V/D Steenblok (Rubin Royal x Gribaldi) and Laurence Roos with Fil Rouge (Stedinger x Argentinus). The British pair earned a score of 70.565% from judges Frederico Pinteus (POR) at E, Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel (NED) at H, Freddy Leyman (BEL) at C, Christoph Hess (GER) at M and Maarten Van Der Heijden (NED) at B. Charlotte, who is reigning FEI U25 European Champion with Dark Legend and famously piloted Glamourdale to victory in the seven-year-old title at the 2018 Longines FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships, is a key player in the development of the Van Olsts’ world class competition horses. This is evidenced in the superb introduction she’s giving Everdale to the big stage. Just last month, in Compiègne, she and Everdale won the Freestyle on the stallion’s international Grand Prix debut, and at Kronenberg they stole the show yet again. On Sunday, for his first Grand Prix Special, the elegant black Everdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro), now 10, was coolly ridden by Charlotte for 71.42% to take close second behind the winning Belgian challenger, Verliefden. The young Brit also shone in the small tour, winning the Prix St Georges with Fendi T, Anne Van Olst’s nine-year-old Negro x Lester gelding. They achieved a score of 71.20% before going on to claiming second in the Intermediate I (68.76%). Results of the British rider: CDI3* Grand Prix 1st Fanny Verliefden with Indoctro V/D Steenblok, 71.304% (BEL) 3rd Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 70.565% (GBR) CDI3* Grand Prix Special 1st Fanny Verliefden with Indoctro V/D Steenblok, 71.447% (BEL) 2nd Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 71.426% (GBR) CDI3* Prix St Georges 1st Charlotte Fry with Fendi T, 71.206% (GBR) CDI3* Intermediate I 1st Geert Jan Raateland with Painted, 68.882% (NED) 2nd Charlotte Fry with Fendi T, 68.765% (GBR) For full results follow this link .

Paul Barker claims the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at Bramham Horse Trials

THE BARBOUR FAMILY LAUNCH A BRAVE NEW ERA FOR BOLESWORTH ESTATE

World Anti-Doping Agency UPDATE

Following the loss of Eglington Horse Trials due to the recent heavy rain, the Novice Regional Final that was scheduled to take place at Eglington on 8 June will now be held at Hopetoun Horse Trials on Saturday 29 June.

British Eventing can today [11 June 2019] share details of the events that have applied to replace the week five Belton International fixture for 2020 and beyond.

After a strong start in the home leg, Great Britain will head to Strzegom in Poland from 26 to 30 June for their second points winning opportunity of the 2019 FEI Nation Cup series.

Following the abandonment of Berriewood Horse Trials due to the recent adverse weather (Saturday 8 June), the Airowear BE80(T) Regional Final scheduled to take place will now be held at Stafford (2) on Sunday 14 July.

British Eventing currently has a vacancy for an Officials and Rules Coordinator.

Following the loss of Eglinton Horse Trials due to the recent heavy rain, the Novice Regional Final that was scheduled to take place at Eglinton on 8 June will now be held at Hopetoun Horse Trials on Saturday 29 June.

Rachel Proudley takes the top spot in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at Keysoe Equestrian Centre

Lucy Macgregor from Perthshire is June?s NAF Shining Star

Nicole Pavitt is victorious in the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at the South of England Show

Mark Edwards takes the win in the International Stairway at the South of England Show

Princess Anne to launch first National Training Centre for RDA

New RDA National Training Centre to be opened by Princess Anne

It went right down to the wire in an exciting finale to the Equi-Trek CCI4*-L but it was Kitty King for Great Britain who came out on top with a near perfect show jumping performance. Riding Vendredi Biats for owners Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd-Baker, Sally Eyre and Samantha Wilson, the Wiltshire rider cantered into the arena knowing the rider before her, Gemma Tattersall riding Jalapeno III, had lowered a fence which gave her a further four penalty cushion to add to the 0.1 she had in hand.

It was a win for Ireland’s Cathal Daniels in the British Horse Feeds CCI4*-L, a well deserved and faultless performance led him to finish on his dressage score of 33.7 with the chestnut mare Rioghan Rua, owned and bred by Frank and Margaret Kinsella. Securing a clear round in the show jumping led to a nail biting finish, as the top two  dropped a pole each, Cathal (22) went up the ranks to top the leaderboard.

Scott Brash 2nd in LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes

A fault free day at the office for Gemma Tattersall riding the Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V meant they held the ascendancy in the Land Rover CCI4*-L and took the top spot on the podium along with the £2000 first prize. It’s been a tough spring for Gemma and was open in her web blog with everyone but Bramham would appear to have turned a corner for the Horsham rider. As well as this victory with ‘Pebbles’, she currently has her two Chilli Morning sired young horses in the top ten in the Equi-Trek CCI4*-L section ahead of the final show jumping phase.

Kitty King takes the top spot going into the last phase of the Equi-Trek CCI-L4* class. Putting in a strong cross country performance, she rode clear inside the time on the classy grey Vendredi Biats, owned by Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd-Baker, Sally Eyre and Samantha Wilson, while dressage leaders Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On had a run out on course.

Following further inspections of the site this afternoon, it is with regret that we announce that all competition at Berriewood scheduled to take place on Sunday 9th June has also been abandoned. 

Following an inspection this morning, it is with regret that we announce that all competition at Berriewood scheduled to take place on Saturday 8th June has been abandoned. 

A fault free day at the office for Gemma Tattersall riding the Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V meant they held the ascendancy in the Land Rover CCI4*-S and took the top spot on the podium along with the £2000 first prize. It’s been a tough spring for Gemma and she was open in her web blog with everyone but Bramham would appear to have turned a corner for the Horsham rider. As well as this victory with ‘Pebbles’, she currently has her two Chilli Morning sired young horses in the top ten in the Equi-Trek CCI4*-L section ahead of the final show jumping phase.

World Class Show Jumpers Head to The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show

Team GBR para-equestrian dressage rider Sophie Christiansen supports the RDA's 50 Faces campaign.

In the Equi-Trek CCI-L4*, an afternoon downpour didn’t put off  the experienced Pippa Funnell with Mr and Mrs Walkinshaw’s 10 year old Billy Walk On; “We’re used to working in all weathers!” said Pippa. Their polished test scored 26.6 to narrowly go ahead of the morning’s top score, from fellow Brit Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, of 26.8.

We are sorry to announce that Eglinton Horse Trials, due to run on Saturday 8th June, has been abandoned.

Following Hugh Thomas’s retirement from the helm at Badminton Horse Trials, long term Assistant Director Jane Tuckwell will now step up to Event Director.

Even a sharp rain shower towards the end of proceedings couldn’t spoil a perfect day one at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials.

Applications for The Windrush Equestrian Foundation will open on June 10th, 2019 for the Young Eventers Programme.

Carl Hester’s former team ride Escapado has sadly passed away at the age of 26. Bought as five year old by Roly Luard, the Oldenburg son of Ex Libris went on to play a pivotal role in Carl’s international career. They accumulated domestic accolades including the 2004 National Champion title, they won international Grands Prix, were highest placed Brits with a 13th place at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and flew to Los Angeles for the 2005 FEI World Cup™ Final. Later that same year, they were on the British team at the FEI European Championships in Hagen, Germany, where they achieved a sensational third in the Grand Prix Special which, at the time, Carl said was “the best ride I have had on any horse”. Escapado later teamed up with the Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud as the first international Grand Prix horse for the now well-known Dutchman. In 2011, at the age of 18, Escapado returned to the UK to commence a long and happy retirement with his former groom, Caroline Dawson. Carl paid tribute to Escapado on Facebook ; “Sad day today as I said goodbye to a very special friend, Escapado aka Peanuts. He was 26yrs old and took me from last place in Aachen in 2003 to the highest placed Brit at Athens Olympics 2004, then finishing third in the Special at the 2005 European Champs. Peanuts then took Hans Peter Minderhoud to the start of his international career before we took him back to retire at 18 years old. "I want to thank his faithful groom and my friend Caroline [Dawson] for giving him a gorgeous retirement. Peanuts lived out his days with two Shetland ponies who he adored. I can’t thank Caroline enough for his last few years, he will be much missed.” The memory of Escapado will be firmly etched in the hearts of those who knew him, those who followed his career, and also in the history of the sport.

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Wiesbaden CDI4* in Germany (7 - 10 June): Big Tour Emma Hindle from Greater Manchester with her own Romy Del Sol (brown mare, 13yrs, s. Romanov Blue Hors). Laura Tomlinson from Gloucestershire, with her own and Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr (black stallion, 12yrs, s. Rhodium ds. San Remo) - pictured. Start lists and results Live stream The following rider has been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Kronenberg CDI3* in the Netherlands (6 - 9 June): Big Tour Charlotte Fry from North Yorkshire but based in the Netherlands, with Anne Van Olst’s Everdale (black stallion, 10yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale ds. Negro). Small Tour Charlotte Fry with Anne Van Olst’s Fendi T (chestnut gelding, 9yrs, s. Negro ds. Lester). Start lists and results

Two months to go until the British Showjumping National Championships

FarmAbility is SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials’ chosen charity for 2019.

The National Development Programme for Coaching Excellence is aimed at coaches working with adults and young people who participate in equestrian sport for competitive recreation motives.

British Eventing currently has a vacancy for an Under 18 Regional Coordinator in the East Midlands.

As part of on-going development plans British Eventing now seek exceptional people for the role of Trainee Scorer (South Gloucestershire/Bristol Area).

Applications are still open for the UKCC endorsed British Eventing Coaching Certificate (BECC) Level 2 coaching development programme.

As part of British Eventing’s role in improving the safety of eventing, BE has this year introduced Continuing Performance Requirements.

Major British and continental dressage stars are heading to this year’s Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show (12 – 16 June 2019). The show is set to host a number of viewing trials for the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses as well as the prestigious Equitop Myoplast CDI3* Grand Prix and Freestyle. Following its huge success over the past two years, the Wednesday and Thursday will see top-level dressage return with the Bolesworth CDI3* attracting leading riders to the magnificent Cheshire estate. Big names to look out for on the dressage front are Carl Hester and Britain’s golden girl, Charlotte Dujardin MBE, who so enjoyed last year’s show. Carl and Charlotte will be riding their current top rides, Hawtins Delicato and Mount St John Freestyle (pictured). They’ll be joined by Richard Davison and Bubblingh, Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca and Emile Faurie with Café’s Caletta to name just a few. Wednesday afternoon will play host to the Equitop Myoplast CDI3* Grand Prix and the evening will include a demonstration with Carl Hester and Peter Storr. Following his hugely successful demonstrations over the past two years, Carl has teamed up with renowned dressage rider, trainer and FEI 4* Judge, Peter, for the 2019 event. This well-known duo will bring to spectators a fascinating showcase titled - ‘80% Is The New 70%’ – Through The Eyes Of The Judges’ – on Wednesday, 12 June at 6.40pm. Carl is simply legendary in the sport of dressage having ridden and produced so many horses to Grand Prix level over the years. A multi-garlanded gold medallist across so many championships teams, Carl is also held in high regard for training a plethora of leading dressage riders in the modern-day sport. Carl’s latest star is the 11 year old Diamond Hit son, Hawtins Delicato - an attractive dark bay gelding that he co-owns with Lady Anne Evans and Ann Cory. Together they formed part of the bronze medal winning team at last year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina. Charlotte returns with Mount St John Freestyle, the bay mare who was so successful at last year’s show. Bolesworth International is the mare’s first competition since WEG where the pair led the British team to win bronze and came away with individual bronze after the Grand Prix Special. Emile Faurie is one of the country’s leading international riders and trainers and has represented Great Britain at World, European and Olympic level. He was part of the bronze medal winning team at last year’s WEG, riding Dono Dimaggio. VIP Hospitality experiences are still available for all sessions throughout the event, and are the perfect way to enjoy the show up close with access to the luxury ringside marquee and fine dining. General admission tickets with 20% off gate prices can still be bought online at www.bolesworthinternational.com

Equitop New Sponsor For Bolesworth Young Horse Championship Show

British Eventing is pleased to announce the British combinations long listed for the 2019 FEI European Championships for Ponies, which take place on 15-18 August in Strzegom, Poland.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary year in 2019, Riding for the Disabled Association is marking the milestone through its 50 Faces campaign, telling the stories of some of the amazing people who make RDA the extraordinary organisation it is today. Para Dressage rider, Sophie Christiansen, adds her story to the 50 Faces explaining how without RDA she wouldn’t be where she is today, and her ambitions for continued success and her desire to help other riders achieve their dreams. Here we meet… Sophie Christiansen Eight time Paralympic gold medallist, Sophie Christiansen, would never have even sat on a horse if it wasn’t for RDA. Sophie was born two months prematurely with cerebral palsy and began riding at the age of six on the recommendation of a physiotherapist who believed in the benefit of horse riding for children with disabilities. Instead of doing PE at school, Sophie attended her local RDA Centre, South Bucks RDA. Said Sophie: “I guess riding gave me a sense of freedom, I couldn’t walk or run like the other children but when I sat on a horse I felt free and it kind of escalated from there. “I was always quite sporty and used to love playing football and hockey but I was rubbish at them and kept falling over. Dressage was the only sport I was good at, so I was determined to see how far I could go.” At 16, Sophie was the youngest athlete for Great Britain to compete at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, returning home with an unexpected bronze medal, having originally just travelled to the Games to gain valuable experience. Now a Paralympic veteran, Sophie says her most memorable moment came at London 2012 when the 10,000 capacity crowd erupted at the end of her Freestyle test. “I had specifically put the test together to be very British and I was coming out of the arena and the audience had been told not to clap because of health and safety. I could feel the anticipation in the air and my brother and two cousins whipped off their shirts to reveal ‘We love Sophie’ written on their chests. As they shouted ‘We love you, Sophie’, the whole crowd joined in. “There are no words to describe that feeling – I still get a bit emotional thinking about it now!” Sophie acknowledges that without riding and RDA she wouldn’t be the person she is today as it has given her the confidence to accept her disability. “I work as a software developer for investment bank, Goldman Sachs, and so many of the skills I use in day-to-day life are testament to how RDA and riding has helped me develop. Without getting on a horse I wouldn’t be where I am today. RDA has a lot to answer for!” added Sophie. Looking to the future, Sophie aims to compete at Tokyo 2020 but is also working towards leaving a legacy to help other riders make the transition from RDA therapy riding to Para Dressage. To achieve this Sophie has launched a membership club to raise money and get people closer to the action of Para Dressage as well as share her journey with members from RDA to winning gold. For more information about Sophie’s membership club visit www.sophiechristiansen.co.uk/goldclub You can read Sophie’s story, and meet the other 49 Faces of RDA at www.rda.org.uk  

Derek Morton lands the Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round at Field House Equestrian Centre

Emily Dewey claims the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at Royal Bath and West

Tim Davies wins the Connolly?s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at Keysoe

Joe Stockdale takes the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Second Round at Keysoe

Are you looking to take the next step in your equestrian career? Then the BEF Young Professionals programme is for you.

World Number One event rider, Oliver Townend heads a stellar cast of the country’s very best competitors set to take part in the Cazenove Capital Eventing Grand Prix held at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show.

From Monday 10 June 2019 the phone lines at British Eventing Head Office will be changing to the following hours:  

Entries are open for this year's Barbury International Horse Trials, which runs from 4th - 7th July.

Great Britain’s Susan Pape and Harmony’s Don Noblesse were on winning form last week at Hamburg CDI4* in Germany (29 May – 2 June). Following their success at Hagen CDI4* in April, Susan and Don Noblesse’s Hamburg campaign began in superb style with second place in Thursday’s CDI4* Grand Prix. Frederic Wandres with his 2018 Olympia CDI-W winning partner Duke of Britain claimed the class for Germany, the British pairing scored 71.739% for second. On to Saturday, Susan and Don Noblesse (Dancier x Don Davidoff) - a 12-year-old black stallion owned by Colorado-based Harmony Sporthorses - delivered a well-executed, expressive, winning routine on their CDI Freestyle debut riding to a captivating Coldplay compilation produced by Ralf Roder. The unanimous winners in the eyes of the judging panel of E: Hans-Christian Matthieson (GER), H: Raphael Saleh (FRA), C: Isobel Wessels (GBR), M: Ulrike Nivelle (GER) and B: Elke Ebert (GER), the pair was awarded 75.850%, a clear five percent in front of their closest rivals, Sweden’s Charlotte Haid Bondergaard with Roberto Des Frettes (70.550%). Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain won the Grand Prix Special. “So mega proud of Harmony's Don Noblesse in Hamburg,” said Susan on Facebook. “We were able to win the freestyle! My big thanks to Leslie and John Malone [of Harmony Sporthorses] who make this possible to me!” CDI4* Grand Prix 1st Frederic Wandres with Duke of Britain, 73.761% (GER) 2nd Susan Pape with Harmony’s Don Noblesse, 71.739% (GBR) 15th Susan Pape with Grafit, 66.630% (GBR) Full results CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Susan Pape with Harmony’s Don Noblesse, 75.850% (GBR) Full results

There was much to celebrate at this year's Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair as British riders sail home with top results from the popular Irish event.

It’s all change at the Duo Group Holdings Ltd Nunney International Horse Trials this year, which runs from June 14 - 16 at Southfield House near Frome in Somerset.

The organisers of Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials are delighted to announce a new partnership with Persie Distillery, in celebration of the international event's 30th anniversary.

Team NAF move up the Longines FEI Nations Cup Table in St Gallen

In an exciting conclusion to the Charles Owen British Pony Championship, Daisy Bathe took the Championship title with Georgina Herrling’s fantastic chestnut stallion SF Detroit on a score of 23.6.

Claudia Moore 3rd in Wierden Pony Grand Prix

Oliver Tuff and Jack Whitaker finish within Top 4 of Wierden Junior Grand Prix

Our Charles Owen Pony riders demonstrated their drive and determination across the country this morning at Brand Hall in the British Pony Championship, delivering some classy rounds and forming an impressive leaderboard ahead of tomorrow’s final show jumping phase.   

Brits finish 4th in Lisbon

Laura Renwick finishes 3rd in St Gallen CSIO 5* Grand Prix

Team NAF give GB a further win in Wierden Children?s Nations Cup

Phillip Miller heads the International Stairway at Suffolk County Show

Jay Halim lands the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at Hertfordshire County Show

Brits finish 5th in Lisbon

Update from Warwick Hall organiser on the preparations for the second fixture of the season:

The stars of the future were out in force today in the Charles Owen National Pony Championships with a brilliant display of dressage riding that saw seven sub 30 scores.

British Eventing currently has a vacancy for an Under 18 Regional Coordinator in Wales and West Midlands.

Ahead of this year’s Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials, 6 – 9 June, the organising team have put in some innovative measures as part of the collective responsibility we all share towards the environment. 2019 will be the ‘greenest’ Bramham ever in its 46 year history.

The following rider is representing Great Britain this week at Hamburg CDI4* in Germany (29 May – 2 June 2019). CDI4* Big Tour Susan Pape based in Hemmoor, Germany, with Ingo Pape’s Grafit (black gelding, 13rs, s. Birkhof’s Grafenstolz ds. Ganymed I) and her own Harmony’s Don Noblesse (black stallion, 12yrs, s. Dancier ds. Don Davidoff) - pictured. Start lists and results Live stream

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) continues to closely monitor the Equine Flu outbreak. The latest statement from the Animal Health Trust (AHT) highlights that it remains a significant threat to the welfare of UK horses – with last week seeing the highest number of confirmed outbreaks in one week since February. The total number of confirmed outbreaks as reported by the AHT in May 2019 has reached 21. The majority of infected horses are unvaccinated. The BEF and BD join the AHT in urging owners to maintain their vigilance and ensure that their vaccination records are up to date. We continue to strongly recommend that if it has been longer than six months since the last vaccination, owners should discuss a booster with their veterinary surgeon. As the competition season is getting into its busiest period, the number of outbreaks is likely to rise with the movement of horses across the country. It's vital that unvaccinated horses do not mix with other equines due to the increased risk of such an infectious disease spreading. Our recommendations are based on advice from experts in equine flu and epidemiology with experience in managing previous outbreaks. You can find more information on how to prevent the spread of equine flu and how to protect your horse here .

Team NAF Juniors win in Wierden

GB Ponies triumph in Wierden

Jonathon Egmore dominates in the Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round hosted by the Norfolk Showjumping Club

BEF Equine Flu Update - 30th May 2019

21 confirmed outbreaks in May - BEF urges owners to maintain vigilance and keep vaccination records up to date

All refunds of entry fees in respect of Kirkley Hall, scheduled to take place on Saturday 8 June, have now been processed. Please note that it may take a few days for funds to show in bank accounts.

A development quartet was selected for the second European instalment of the FEI Nations CupTM at the Equitour Aalborg show in Uggerhalne, hosted by Danish entrepreneur Andreas Helgstrand. Louise Bell was the ‘veteran’ of the team having been in one previous Nations Cup team at Hickstead last year while Sara Gallop, Liz Diegutis and Georgia Stokes were all awarded their red pocket flag for the first time representing Great Britain on an international team. Rainy, blustery conditions met the riders on arrival which weren’t ideal but the quartet coped well in a high pressure situation. Extra nerves, wind, competing in a team for the first time and a huge international stage kept some scores in check but Sara Gallop and her own Bandreo put in a really strong performance in the first round to earn a top ten place with 69.17%, an International personal best in the Grand Prix. The team may have missed out on a podium finish but the experience gained will last a lifetime and only drive them forwards with their careers and training. Liz Diegutis took to Facebook on arrival home after two long days of travel to say; “What can I say? I achieved a dream this last week and it’s just made me hungry for more in a sport I adore and given more dreams I want to achieve!” What a great way to sum up an amazing experience. For full results – click here CDIO Grand Prix 1. Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio (DEN), 77.65% 10. Sara Gallop with her own Bandreo, 69.17% 15. Louise Bell with her own Into the Blue, 66.56% 18. Georgia Stokes with her own Talented Mr Ripley, 64.45% 19. Liz Diegutis with her own Saskia Hit, 61.34% Grand Prix Special 1. Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio (DEN), 78.8% 8. Sara Gallop with her own Bandreo, 66.76% 9. Georgia Stokes with her own Talented Mr Ripley, 65.85% Grand Prix Freestyle 1. Agnete Kirk Thinggaard with Jojo AZ (DEN), 77.48% 7. Louise Bell with her own Into the Blue, 71.66% 9. Liz Diegutis with her own Saskia Hit, 68.59% FEI Nations Cup 1. Denmark, 16 2. Sweden, 20 3. Germany, 43 4. Finland, 57 5. Great Britain, 67 CDI – Small Tour Prix St Georges 1. Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Blue Hors St Schufro (DEN), 77.23% 14. Rebecca Edwards with her own Fantasia, 65% Inter I 1. Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Blue Hors St Schufro (DEN), 77.23% Ret Rebecca Edwards with her own Fantasia, 65% CDIU25 Inter II 1. Victoria E. Vallentin with Ludwig der Sonnenkoenig 2 (DEN), 74.75% 8. Ellen Mccarthy with Bridget Maccarthy’s Belafonte, 66.07% U25 Grand Prix 1. Victoria E. Vallentin with Ludwig der Sonnenkoenig 2 (DEN), 72.26% 7. Ellen Mccarthy with Bridget Maccarthy’s Belafonte, 66.32%  

Four days of Premier League dressage at Somerford Park proved a resounding success with strong entries across all classes over the bank holiday weekend (24 -27 May 2019). Sophie Wells, both a leading light in para dressage and prolific competitor on the able bodied circuit, was unbeatable in the Small Tour classes she contested. Aboard C Fatal Attraction (pictured), with whom she’s reigning Grade V Individual and Freestyle World Champion, Sophie set the standard in Saturday’s 39-strong Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges. She scored 74.21% to take victory ahead of talented young rider Dylan Deutrom (21) with William Deans’ San Marco, though twenty four hours on it was Dylan’s turn to taste victory, winning Sunday’s PSG on 74.08%, with the new combination of Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Valencia on their coat tails with 73.03% On Saturday, Sophie said, “I’m thrilled with the win today, he’s not done a straight able bodied test since April last year. We were concentrating on WEG last year and this year wanted to get in the arena to do some changes as he gets quite excited. His general way of going is so much better and the quality is really coming.” Sophie and ‘Jorge’, as the 12 year old Fidertanz son is known, also won Sunday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I with another cracking score of 73.33%, with Michael Eilberg and Sarotti 57 and Carl Hester with Brioso II completing the top three. Sophie also earned fourth in both the Cavalor Inter II and LeMieux Grand Prix with her up-and-coming Grand Prix mare, Diadeem. “Wow wow wow what a weekend at Somerford Premier League. I am bursting with pride for both of them…” is how Sophie began her concluding comment on Sophie Wells MBE Dressage Facebook . The combination of Katie Bailey and Eagle Nouvelle landed a win in Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I, continuing their run of good form with a score of 71.84% for owner Hannah Dovey. “He felt quite ‘go-ey’ today so I had to rein him in a little bit,” said Katie who trains with Charlotte Dujardin. “But it was a clean test and I was pleased with the changes and my left canter pirouette was very good. He was very consistent and I was really happy with him.” A seven and a half hour trip from the Devon and Cornwall border proved successful for Holly Kerslake with Carl Trock’s 10 year old Welsh Cob stallion Valhallas Zorro who clinched Saturday's Pony Team Test. The pair, who were double winners at Keysoe CDI earlier this year, were awarded a score of 71.54%. “I was really happy with the test. We’ve been working on some stuff at home which came off in the arena so he was a really good boy,” said Holly. “My major goal for this year is the Europeans.” English student Rebecca Bell took a short trip out from Oxford University to claim the Young Rider Team Test on a score of 69.74%. The 2015 Pony European team gold medallist said, “I’ve been campaigning for European selection, and I’ve got to prove consistency so I’m really pleased with today’s result.” Sunday’s LeMieux Grand Prix hosted a healthy field of twenty. An on-form Tom Goode and Dior III (Gribaldi x Goodtimes) registered a score of 70.34% to finish second, with Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato (Diamond Hit x Regazzoni) repeating their 2018 victory to take the class by a plus three percent margin. Fresh from Compiègne CDIO where they were part of the winning British team in the FEI Nations Cup™, Carl and ‘Del’ delivered a high quality if not error-free performance to lead the class with a score 73.72% from the judging panel of Norway’s Trond Asmyr (E), Stephen Clarke (H), Clive Halsall (M), France’s Jean-Michel Roudier (B) and Peter Storr (C). “Hawtins Delicato wins the Grand Prix today at Somerford. Not perfect yet - you get some bits better, then compromise on others, but always fun to ride!” said Carl on Facebook . Megan Ingham, riding her mother Coral Ingham’s 18 years young Wanadoo (by Wolkenstein II), claimed the U25 Grand Prix with a promising score of 68.84%. Megan and Wanadoo have been together for two years and have only ridden two Inter IIs so Megan was thrilled with the win in their first U25 Grand Prix. “He’s an absolute superstar,” she said. “He’s always been a challenge but he’s a dream to ride and he is the best team mate in the world. “This is a new personal best and I’m absolutely amazed, it’s the hardest test I’ve ever done so I’m over the moon,” she added. Looking towards the rest of the season? “A couple more Inter IIs are on the cards this season and I’m hoping to go abroad with the U25s and possibly a couple more Grands Prix by the end of the year.” Sarah Higgins proved a prolific winner throughout the weekend taking Saturday's Cavalor Inter II and Monday’s Inter I, sponsored by Saracen Horse Feeds. “I’ve had a great weekend, I’ve had quite a few horses here and feel quite weary!” said Sarah. “My best result to date was my win in the Inter II on Saturday on Sarah Rao’s Alfranco. I was terrified as it’s a very new level to me and only my second time I’ve ridden at that level, although ‘Alfie’ is super experienced and just awesome. He held my hand the whole way through.” Another Monday winner was Cara Shardlow from North Yorkshire with Detonator II, her 13 year old son of Demonstrator. Cara was over the moon with her win particularly as they’ve only made a recent return to competition following injury. “It means so much to come here and win today and is just the motivation I need,” said Cara. “[I’m] looking forward to competing the rest of the season and hoping to do some more Premier Leagues.” Winner of Monday's Pony Team Test was Steffi Tomlinson with Tracy Tomlinson’s Vivassa, a 12 year old chestnut daughter of Vivaldi – a combination long listed for the Pony European Championships in August. “We had a few mistakes but [I’m] still really pleased,” said Steffi. “Her canter work is always her best work, but her trot work did improve in the test.” British Dressage thanks all the class sponsors and the team at Somerford Park for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below and to all those who took part. The winners: Friday 24 May Class 1: Shearwater Young Horse 4YO Qualifier Tom Goode with Special Diva Class 2: Shearwater Young Horse 5YO Qualifier Darcas Lever with Sandrovski Class 3: Shearwater Young Horse 6YO Qualifier Melissa Chapman with Inocencio DHI Class 4: Medium 73 Ryan Todd with Mount St John Di Romantica, 71.03% Class 5: Equine Construction Advanced Medium 96 Tom Goode with Sakira, 70.39% Saturday 25 May Class 6: Hickstead British Young Horse National 5YO Qualifier Charlie Hutton with Active Scalini, 7.88 Class 7: Hickstead British Young Horse National 6YO Qualifier Michael Eilberg with MSJ Dante VX, 8.02 Class 8: Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 5YO Qualifier Lucinda Elliott with Hawtins Lirica, 8.22 Class 9: Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 6YO Qualifier Michael Eilberg with MSJ Dante VX, 8.14 Class 10: Cavalor Intermediate II Sarah Higgins with Alfranco, 68.55% Class 11: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Katie Bailey with Eagle Nouvelle, 71.84% Class 12: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 74.21% Class 13: FEI 7 YO Preliminary Test Tom Goode with Feine Schufro, 72.08% Class 14: Prix St Georges Freestyle Eilidh Grant with Eranda Retto, 71.96% Class 15a: Pony Team Test Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 71.54% Class 15b: Junior Team Test Clare Hole with Winnetou GEP, 67.64% Class 15c: Young Rider Team Test Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 69.74% Sunday 26 May Class 16: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Jessie Kirby with Bell Amie I, 68.60% Class 17: U25 Grand Prix Megan Ingham with Wanadoo, 68.84% Class 18: LeMieux Grand Prix Carl Hester with Hawtins Delicato, 73.72% Class 19: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 73.33% Class 20: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Dylan Deutrom with San Marco, 74.08% Class 21: Pony Individual Test Emilia Nelson with WFS Top Red, 68.41% Monday 27 May Class 22: Pony Team Test Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 68.97% Class 23: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Cara Shardlow with Detonator II, 68.68% Class 24: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John Valencia, 75.57% Class 25: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I| Sarah Higgins with Waldessarini, 71.10% Class 26: Grand Prix Special Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg, 68.46% For full results click here

Carmen Edwards takes the top spot in the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at The Cheshire Horse Show

Paul Barker is victorious in the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Second Round at Muirmill Equestrian Centre

Ronnie Lee Jones takes the Connolly?s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at Bicton Arena

If you are looking to compete in the next few weeks, there is still time to get your entries in for events coming up in June!

Sadly due to low entries all competition due to take place at Kirkley Hall in Northumberland on 8 June has been cancelled. All entries will be refunded in full. 

The British Eventing Senior Selectors are now seeking combinations to compete at Strzegom Horse Trials in Poland as part of the British squad for the FEI Nations Cup series. 

To compete at an overseas event, competitors must complete and return to British Eventing an Application for Overseas Event form. 

Ask BE heads to Belsay Horse Trials on 1 June 2019.

The longlist of horses and riders for the Saracen Horse Feeds Young Rider squad, who will represent Great Britain at the 2019 FEI Young Rider European Championships in Maarsbergen, the Netherlands (10-14 July), have been announced.

In the final week before the 2019 edition of the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials (6 – 9 June) gets underway, former Olympian Ian Stark has released the details of his cross country test for the riders on Saturday, 8 June.

Perfect going guaranteed in the brand-new Equine America Ring Three

Jodie Burchmore-Eames lands the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at SouthView Equestrian Centre

James Loffet finishes 3rd in Hardelot France

Amber Owen clinches the win in the Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round at Parwood Equestrian Centre

Nicole Pavitt wins the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Second Round at Bicton Arena

The stage is set for a great weekend at Brand Hall Horse Trials with over 300 entries received. The event will be held on Friday 31 May, Saturday 1, Sunday 2 June with many leading riders taking par together with a whole host of  ‘up and coming stars’ in the  2* Sections and the Charles Owen BE National Pony Championship.

Phoebe Locke headed in to today’s final show jumping phase in second place, but finished the day as the 2019 Saracen Horse Feeds BE Young Rider National Champion following a clear round on her own Union Fortunus at Houghton International Horse Trials.

Great Britain landed a podium finish at the opening leg of the FEI Nations Cup, as the CCI4*-S competition concluded today with the cross country phase at the Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International.

Sadly due to low entries, Speetley will only be running on Saturday 8 June. Where possible, any entries on Sunday 9 June will be moved to Saturday, including BE80(T). Anyone unable to run on the Saturday will be refunded in full.  Please contact the entry secretary as soon as possible if you are unable to move days:

Saturday at the Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International has seen the cross country phase for the Saracen Horse Feeds Young Rider National Championship, CCI3*-L and CCI2*-L, whilst it was show jumping for the CCI4*-S (incorporating the FEI Nations Cup) competitors.

BEF Equine Flu Update - 24th May 2019

The TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show Is Back?Bigger & Better

More cases of Equine Flu confirmed; BEF urges continued vigilance

Another 156 event horses, at two-, three- and four-star level, performed their dressage test under clear blue skies. Due to huge entries this year, another 22 four-star combinations still have their tests to do tomorrow, starting at 8.30am, before all show jump. The four-star horses run across country on Sunday.

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Uggerhalne CDIO4* & CDIU25 in Denmark (23 – 25 May 2019). The Equitour Aalborg show in Uggerhalne has evolved into one of Europe’s largest dressage and show jumping internationals, hosted by Danish equestrian mogul Andreas Helgstrand. BD International Teams Director Judy Harvey expressed her delight in fielding a British team at this event for the first time; "We’re thrilled to give the next level of British Grand Prix riders the opportunity to gain team experience at an exciting event. This week’s team are new to the level whilst last week we saw a team at almost full strength take the win in Compiegne’s 5* Nations Cup Competition. "Louise Bell is an experienced competitor in great form. She enjoyed super results at Windsor earlier this month and has already arrived in Uggerhalne with Into the Blue settling in well. She’s joined by former Junior team member Liz Diegutis who’ll enjoy a debut senior team experience and continue to build for the future, alongside Saskia Hit she has a lovely young horse waiting in the wings. Georgia Stokes was over the moon to receive her senior team call up and brings a super home produced horse to the competition, whilst Sara Gallop has the chance to give her talented stallion Bandreo some good exposure at Nations Cup level - we’re sure she’ll deliver the goods. "Overall, it’s an amazing opportunity to widen the base of the pyramid of potential team riders and improve our strength and depth.” CDIO4* Nations Cup Louise Bell from Oxfordshire with her own and Tonya Wood’s Into the Blue (roan, gelding, 13yrs, s. Ublesco ds. Calvaro Z). Elizabeth Diegutis from Hampshire with her own Saskia Hit (bay, mare, 14yrs, s. Sandro Hit). Sara Gallop from Gloucestershire with her own Summerhouse Bandreo (bay, stallion, 13yrs, s. Sandreo ds. Bruin). Georgia Stokes from Cornwall with her own Talented Mr Ripley (bay, gelding, 14yrs, s. Nekton). CDI3* Small Tour Rebecca Edwards from Berkshire with her own Fantasia I (liver chestnut, mare, 10yrs, s. Florencio I). CDIU25 Rebecca Edwards from Berkshire with Sarah Oppenheimer’s Headmore Delegate (chestnut, gelding, 16yrs, s. Dimaggio ds. Akut). Ellie Mccarthy from Hampshire with Bridget Mccarthy’s Belafonte (chestnut, gelding, 15yrs, s. Belissimo M ds. Wendekreis). For times and results click here .

British Showjumping?s Team NAF Youth Squads announced for Wierden Nations Cups

British Showjumping?s Team LeMieux Pony Squad announced for Wierden Nations Cup

Eventing is an incredible sport made up of an amazing community. This year British Eventing wants to team up with a small number of new ambassadors in order to share in their journey - from training to competitions, from the tears to the smiles - all the high and the lows.

The 2019 July/August issue of BE members' magazine, British Eventing Life , will see the 100th copy landing with members in early July.

Following the recent announcement by the National Trust that the International Horse Trials will no longer be taking place at Belton House, the British Eventing Fixtures Team have been preparing the process for replacing this important fixture for 2020 and beyond.

At the end of the first day of dressage at Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International Horse Trials, Great Britain's first two team riders complete in the FEI Nations Cup CCI4*-S with a team score of 67.5 penalties.

Excitement is building as we head into this Bank Holiday’s Somerford Park Premier League in Cheshire, 24 - 27 May 2019. A stellar line up of British Dressage’s elite, will be on hand to produce a dazzling display of dressage including Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin, Michael and Maria Eilberg, Emile Faurie, Becky Moody, Charlie Hutton, Amy Woodhead, Anders Dahl and Isobel Wessels to name just a few. Spectators can expect to see a full range of talent throughout the weekend, Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato will launch a bid to retain their Grand Prix title, with the a special prize from Firmdale Hotel Group presented to the winning owner. ‘The Premier League Dressage has always been well supported and we’re thrilled that this year has seen such high entries,’ said Event Organiser Millie King. ‘We’re very excited to have both Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin heading the line up of Britain’s dressage elite across the weekend, it’s always a wonderful opportunity for spectators in the North West to watch and be inspired by these world-class individuals.’ Don’t miss out on four action packed days of competition and fun for all the family at Somerford Park Premier League Dressage Show, Cheshire this bank holiday weekend. Somerford Park is situated half way between Congleton and Holmes Chapel, on the main A54 with easy access from the M6 at junction 18. Gates open from 8am. Entry is charged at £10 per car. If you show your BD membership card this will allow you free access. For further information go to www.somerfordparkpremierleage.com

Britain’s riders across the international levels were in dominant form at the 2019 Compiegne CDI in northern France. The feature class was the first European leg of the FEI Nations Cup TM Series and we selected a very strong team in Carl Hester with Ann Cory, Lady Anne Evans and his own Hawtins Delicato, Gareth Hughes with Julia Hornig, Rebecca Hughes and his own Classic Briolinca, Richard Davison with Gwendolyn Meyer and his own Bubbling and senior team debutante Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend who she jointly owns with Van Olst Horses. Newbie Charlotte was first to go in the Grand Prix with her 2018 FEI U25 European Freestyle Champion Dark Legacy and they had a great warm up but the horse was unsettled by the entry gate just before the start of the test and the duo found it tough to recover enough to get the high marks. But ‘Lottie’ kept her cool and stuck to the task at hand to get the team underway with a solid score of 67.08%. From the expectation of youth to the experience of years, Richard Davison followed with his homebred Bubblingh who had a great show at Windsor just days ago. The Lingh gelding is becoming more and more relaxed on the international stage and a 72.67% was a useful addition to the team. Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca had a great show at Compiegne last year and the mare clearly loves the venue and showed a bit of unwanted piaffe in her first halt, just to show her delight at being in the arena but she soon settled well and showed her extraordinary talent in the piaffe and passage plus some lovely changes to score 74.96%, a new international PB for this test. Then it was the turn of Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato in their first international outing together since the World Equestrian Games. As with Gareth and Briolinca it was a slightly edgy start with the Diamond Hit British-bred gelding clearly in a cheeky mood and not fully focused on his rider. The test still oozed brilliance and that bit of Hester magic to post 76.34%. Sweden’s Patrik Kittel was the GP winner with his star performer Well Done de la Roche CMF, the duo were part of the winning Nations Cup team here last year – could it be a repeat performance? Gareth and Carl were nominated to contest the Special while Richard and Lottie were in the Freestyle mix. Carl was drawn third last to go and again, ‘Del’ was on his toes and niggling mistakes kept the score to a more than respectable 75.31% but still huge mark towards the team total. Gareth followed immediately and Briolinca clearly had got her focused ears on and their test was a pleasure to watch. Focus, harmony, athleticism, expression, partnership; the test had it all and the judges agreed in awarding 77.17%, as second international PB of the weekend and eventual victory of the class. It was also a great score towards the team tally. Lottie and Dark Legend were back on song in the Freestyle and 72.01% all but sealed the Nations Cup victory even before Richard and ‘Bubbles’ set foot in the arena. Richard certainly raised the roof with his characteristic ‘gangsta’ routine to 75.67% to cement gold in the team competition and sixth spot for himself overall. Lottie was just two places behind in eighth. Team GBR finished on 24 points, three clear of Sweden and a development team from the USA were third on 51. In the CDI3* Big Tour, we had three riders in action. In a weekend of debuts, Lottie Fry rode Everdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) in their first senior CDI together. She jointly owns the black stallion with her employers, Van Olst Horses and the duo were impressive to score 70.41% Daniel Watson was the next Brit to go with Nicola Naylor’s faithful partner Amadeus VI and they scored 66.28%. Then it was the turn of the vastly experienced Emma Hindle with her Blue Horse Romanov mare Romy Del Sol. The ultra-sensitive mare has shown huge potential in her two years at GP level and has a mixed record of scores but in the sunshine of Compiegene she and her rider were on song to score 70.45% which left them second overall. Charlotte was fourth and Daniel 19th. In the Freestyle, which all three opted to do, our riders dominated with Lottie taking the win on a huge 76.07%, Emma second with 75.57% and Daniel in 10th with 69.45%. In the Small Tour division we also fielded three riders, a very busy Lottie being one of them. In another debut, it was her 2018 World Young Horse Champion Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) in his first full international competition and he didn’t disappoint any of his fans with two victories on 77%+ scores. Jess Dunn has been in great international form this spring with a brace of wins at Saumur and she’s carried her form on with Jennifer Whittaker’s Alicante Valley as they finished on the podium just behind Lottie in both tests. Katie Bailey had mixed fortunes with Leslie Forelee’s Boccelli 6 in her first senior CDI abroad. Nerves go the better of the Gloucestershire rider in the PSG and an error of course pegged the score back to 67.08% and 25th place but in the Inter I the duo were back to the form they’ve shown to score 71.91% to give a completely British podium. Rebecca Swaine and Bon Jovi, by Krack C, were our lone representatives in the Young Rider ranks and they had a strong show. In the opening Team test they finished third, followed by a fifth in the Individual test and then saved the best until last for the Freestyle where they won with 73.71%. Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga flew the flag in a competitive junior division with this being their third international this year. They finished 11th in the Team test and 13th in both the Individual and Freestyle. Three riders featured in the Pony competition, Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, Lily Laughton with Steendieks Cadillac and Hermione Tottman riding Brasil. Over the three tests, Annabella rode fantastically with her smart palomino and occupied every position on the podium. Her campaign got off to the perfect start with a win in the Team test on 71.04% and on Individual day a strong score of 71.89% put them third while on Sunday she climbed on place to runner up spot in the Freestyle with a cracking 76.93% Hermione finished 11th, 14th and 9th while Lily was 11th and 18th, just missing out on a Freestyle spot. This trip to France was certainly a successful one with some great scores, amazing wins and selection-earning performances – a great start to the summer season. Full results – click here Photo - © PSV J. Morel www.psvphoto.com British placings CDIO5* - FEI Nations Cup Grand Prix 1. Patrik Kittel with Well Done De La Roche CMF (SWE), 77.28% 2. Carl Hester with Hawtins Delicato, 76.34% 5. Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, 74.69% 7. Richard Davison with Bubblingh, 72.67% 27. Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 67.08% Team standings after GP 1. GBR 14 2. SWE 17 3. USA 36 Grand Prix Special 1. Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, 77.17% 3. Carl Hester with Hawtins Delicato, 75.31% Grand Prix Freestyle 1. Emmelie Scholtens with Desperado (NED), 81.58% 6. Richard Davison with Bubblingh, 75.67% 8. Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 72.01% Final team standings 1. GBR 24 2. SWE 27 3. USA 51 4. NED 55 5. FRA 74 CDI3* Grand Prix 1. Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson with Eddieni (SWE), 71.56% 2. Emma Hindle with Romy del Sol, 70.45% 4. Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 70.41% 19. Daniel Watson with Amadeus, 66.28% Grand Prix Freestyle 1. Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 76.07% 2. Emma Hindle with Romy del Sol, 75.57% 10. Daniel Watson with Amadeus, 69.45% Small Tour Prix St Georges 1. Charlotte Fry with Glamourdale, 77.35% 2. Jessica Dunn with Alicante Valley, 72.52% 25. Katie Bailey with Boccelli 6, 67.08% Inter I 1. Charlotte Fry with Glamourdale, 77.10% 2. Jessica Dunn with Alicante Valley, 72.84% 3. Katie Bailey with Boccelli 6, 74.91% CDIY Team 1. Kimberly Pap with Vloet Victory (NED), 72.69% 3. Rebecca Swaine with Bon Jovi, 71.47% 12. Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 68.72% Individual 1. Elizveta Lyban with Erantos (RUS), 70.14% 5. Rebecca Swaine with Bon Jovi, 69.55% 23. Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 65.58% Freestyle 1. Rebecca Swaine with Bon Jovi, 73.71% CDIJ Team 1. Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt with Romantico Ymas (ESP), 71.81% 11.  Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 68.13% Individual 1. Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt with Dhannie Ymas (ESP), 72.35% 13. Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 67.59% Freestyle 1. Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt with Romantico Ymas (ESP), 75.07%% 13. Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 68.29% CDIP Team 1. Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 71.04% 11. Lily Laughton with Steendieks Cadillac, 67.33% 14. Hermione Tottman with Brasil, 66.9% Individual 1. Lara Van Nek with Brouwershaven’s Nairobi (NED), 74.18% 3. Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 71.89% 14. Hermione Tottman with Brasil, 67.92% 18. Lily Laughton with Steendieks Cadillac, 67.33% Freestyle 1. Lara Van Nek with Brouwershaven’s Nairobi (NED), 74.18% 2. Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 76.93% 9. Hermione Tottman with Brasil, 71.35%    

Showcasing the Stars of Tomorrow

Well, it’s been a busy first month in post!

The long list of horses and riders for the NAF Junior squad who will represent Great Britain at the 2019 FEI Junior European Championships in Maarsbergen, the Netherlands (10-14 July) have been announced.

Laura Mantel seals the win in the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Second Round at Wales and West Showground

British Showjumping?s Team NAF announced for Longines FEI Nations Cup? of Switzerland CSIO5*

Bolesworth Golden Ticket Prize!

Piggy French’s incredible run of form over the last few weeks has carried on to the Fairfax & Favor Rockingham International Horse Trials, where she won three out of the four International classes on offer.

All refunds of entry fees in respect of Llanymynech (1) on Saturday 11 May, have now been processed. Please note that it may take a few days for funds to show in bank accounts.

British Eventing currently has a contractor vacancy for an Under 18 Regional Coach in the Eastern region.

British Eventing currently has a vacancy for an Under 18 Assistant Regional Coordinator in the East region.

British Eventing currently has a vacancy for an Under 18 Regional Coordinator in the South West.

Ella Dalton wins the Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round at Petley Wood Equestrian Centre

Laura Mantel claims the Connolly?s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at Wales and West Showground

Helen Tredwell and Larksong take the top spot in the International Stairway at Devon County Show

JB?s Hot Stuff awarded the Twemlows British Showjumping Scholarship

NEW Ambassador announced for the British Showjumping National Championships

This weekend saw a fantastic display of equestrianism from the NAF junior riders at the Fairfax and Favor Rockingham International Horse Trials, with Georgia Bartlett riding her own 13 year old gelding Spano de Nazca to Junior Championship glory.

The Bank Holiday weekend in Somerset looks set to be a hive of equestrian activity with some 900 horse and rider combinations tackling Pontispool Horse Trials.

Taisie de Gruchy 3rd in Young Rider Grand Prix of Lamprechtshausen

Megan Li finishes 2nd in Lamprechtshausen Pony Grand Prix

Tabitha Kyle wins Children?s Grand Prix in Lamprechthausen

Amy Inglis delivers faultlessly in CSIO 5* Grand Prix of La Baule

Tabitha Kyle wins Children?s Grand Prix in Lamprechtshausen

Ben Maher?s London Knights Win in Split Second GCL Duel with New York Empire

Pony Team victorious in Lamprechtshausen

GB Children finish 2nd in Lamprechtshausen Nations Cup

Thirty-four teams of riders representing seven BD regions congregated at Keysoe Equestrian in Bedfordshire for the 2019 Senior Inter Regional event (10 – 12 May 2019). After months of hard work and prep it was local squad Eastern Greatest Showman who took top team honours. The victorious Eastern team of Sian Sheridan (Ardie), Debra Stapleton (Fuego’s Funny Guy) and Samantha Williams (Jim Murphy) posted a cracking total score of 413.620, each riding two tests at their respective level to secure the coveted title. Filling the team podium was Wales Balerion (409.182) and Wales Faranth (407.755), with the remaining dragon inspired Welsh teams following in fifth, sixth and ninth place. Talking about the weekend, which featured the Senior Inter Regional and Equissage Pulse Para Home International running concurrently, Eastern region RDO Katharine Perry proudly commented, “It was fabulous to have our Para and Senior riders all together at Keysoe this weekend. Although we relinquished our Para title, we didn’t go home empty handed as the Senior Inter Regional Trophy came home to the East! Our four riders in the Eastern Greatest Showman Team all rode their socks off to achieve high scores across the levels. “It truly was a whole team effort this weekend, with Para Rep Joanne Dagley Cleworth, Chairman Lotte Olsen, Rider Rep Hayley Liddiard, Team Coach Mark Ruddock, Team Chef Matt Fawcett and the many other partners, parents, friends and supporters who all came and cheered us on and partied with us! It was a proud moment to see Eastern riders on the top of the podium for the Senior Inter Regional and in third for the Para Home International. To see both our Senior and Para riders all gathered together in the sunshine at the prize giving made the weekend even more special!” Dragon power was in evidence with the prolific results of the teams who travelled from Wales. “As I write this there are 20 plus horses in their transport heading to the four points of Wales as they return from a brilliant weekend at Keysoe,” said Wales Chairman Mike Mullis on Facebook . “As Chairman I feel so humble to have watched the 27 riders from Wales at the Para Home International and the Senior Inter Regional achieve so much, five teams in the top ten and the Para team coming fourth. This success is down to their commitment and teamwork and I thank you all for putting yourselves forward for selection and becoming such a successful group of riders. A quick thanks to the supporters who came to help the team, and a special thanks to Sue [Cottrell] our Chef d'Equipe and Vanessa [Archer] for all the work they have put in leading up to the competition and during the weekend. Well done all and I look forward to meeting many of you at the Welsh Championships in a few weeks.” Individual accolades Sian Sheridan from the winning Eastern Greatest Showman team, competing at Medium, remained unbeaten all weekend with her daughter India’s 14 year old UB40 x Metall gelding, Ardie. The pair broke the 70% benchmark both days to edge ahead of runners-up Helen Hopwell and Freshman from team Wales Faranth. Sian’s teammate, Debra Stapleton took the Novice individual title with Fuego’s Funny Guy, her British bred nine year old son of Fuego. The combination, in its second year of dressage, won on Saturday with 71.94% and scored 67.21% for eighth on Sunday - a good enough performance to secure them the overall Novice title. Despite their short time in the sport, they’ve already tasted success. Fuego’s Funny Guy won the Petplan Equine Area Festivals Horse of the Month last September for earning a ticket to Hartpury on his first ever foray into the Area Festivals series, and before the year was out, he and Debra won the Nettex Veteran Rider Prelim Championship at Vale View. The Prelim individual title belonged to Briony Cutler and Pantywaun Branwen (Tynyrheol Lloyd x Buckswood Idris) from the fifth placed team, Wales Norbetta. Briony and ‘Bron’, a 12 year old black Welsh Cob mare owned by Caroline Richards, followed their second place on Saturday with a runaway 72.92% victory Sunday for an overall percentage score of 71.16. A rider from South Yorkshire, another with a winning Welsh pony, won the individual Elementary title for the Northern region. Nine year old gelding Gwendraeth Welsh Dancer (Glantraeth Welsh Dancer x Nebo Daniel) was piloted by Heather Woodhead from the Northern Impact team to win with an overall score of 70.34%. Heather has produced the talented chestnut herself with the help of trainer Hannah Esberger Hancock. British Dressage thanks Simon Bates and the team at Keysoe for putting on a fantastic weekend. Congratulations to the winning teams and individuals, and to everyone who took part. Team standings: 1. Eastern Greatest Showman – S Sheridan, D Stapleton, S Williams - 413.620 2. Wales Balerion – S Cottrell, A Jones, S Jones, S Dando-Mansell - 409.182 3. Wales Faranth – A Daye, N Fletcher, H Hopwell, E Thompson Warren - 407.755 4. Southern Bollinger – C Ashley, S Ashwell, L Westaway, T Pardew - 407.644 5. Wales Norberta – B Cutler, T Ormrod, E Stanford-Roberts, V Western - 407.449 Individual winners: Preliminary -  Briony Cutler with Pantywaun Branwen, 71.16% Novice -  Debra Stapleton with Fuego’s Funny Guy, 69.58% Elementary -  Heather Woodhead with Gwendraeth Welsh Dancer, 70.34% Medium -  Sian Sheridan with Ardie, 70.87% For full results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Wellington Riding is proud to host leg five of the British Dressage Premier League 2019 season over 5 – 10 June.. With an estimated 700 entries of national and international competitors, it promises to be one of the most exciting events of the Hampshire venue's 2019 calendar. The highlight of the entire show is without a doubt the Gala Evening on Saturday 8 June which centers around  Prix St George Freestyle To Music. Wellington is delighted to announce that John and Diana Barley, owners of Nirvana Spa, a stunning day spa located in Berkshire, are once again title sponsor of the feature Gala Evening Class. Nirvana Spa’s  sponsorship brings a remarkable first prize of £2,000, the highest level of prize money awarded to a first placed rider at a British Dressage Premier League. This year their support will extend to cover £500 for the runner up combination in the class. The venue is extremely grateful to Nirvana Spa for being such a generous gala sponsor for the third year in a row. John and  Diana have created a legacy with this much anticipated class attracting the public and equestrian media to watch top class riders compete for the coveted first prize. “Wellington Riding was one of the first centres in the country to run Dressage to Music. Our Waterloo Arena with 8000 square metres of performance space will indeed prove to be a music freestyle battle field for these high profile PSG competitors with such a prize at stake thanks to Nirvana Spa," commented David Sheerin, General Manager of Wellington Riding. Nirvana Spa’s Gala Sponsorship is perfectly matched as Diana Barley’s long term passion for horses, in particular dressage, which began with her very first lesson at Wellington Riding. Since that time, she's been a passionate advocate for equestrianism and Nirvana Spa’s dedicated sponsorship continues not only as Annual Affiliated Sponsors of Wellington Riding but also supporting British Dressage encouraging people into the sport with the Nirvana Spa Volunteer of the Month Award. For more info on the Premier League fixture at Wellington Riding - click here .  

Team NAF Young Riders finish 3rd in Lamprechtshausen Nations Cup

The Girls Fly High in La Baule Nations Cup

The Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International Horse Trials, on 23 – 26 May, will kick off the 2019 FEI Nations Cup series with a British team of up and coming talent.

Since the last Website update, we have been busy working on a number of bug fixes, a number of these are technical in nature but go a long way in making further improvements to the Website behind the scenes.   

Horse & Country TV to air highlights of all 6 legs on Sky and Virgin Media.

Not all international horse trials can boast extraordinary works of sculpture by notable artists, viewable from the cross country course.

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Compiègne CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI2*/CDIYJP in France (16 – 19 May 2019). CDIO5* - Nations Cup Richard Davison from Staffordshire with Gwendolyn Sontheim’s Bubblingh (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Lingh ds. Picandt). Charlotte Fry from North Yorkshire but based in the Netherlands, with her own and Anne Van Olst’s Dark Legend V (dark bay gelding, 11yrs, s. Zucchero ds. Tango). Carl Hester from Gloucestershire with his own, Lady Anne Evans and Ann Cory's Hawtins Delicato (bay gelding, 11yrs, s. Diamond Hit) - pictured. Gareth Hughes from Warwickshire, with Rebecca Hughes’ Classic Briolinca (bay mare, 13yrs, s. Trento B ds. Royal Dance). CDI3* - Big Tour Charlotte Fry with Anne Van Olst’s Everdale (black stallion, 10yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale ds. Negro). Emma Hindle from Greater Manchester with her own Romy Del Sol (brown mare, 13yrs, s. Romanov Blue Hors). Daniel Watson from Kent with Nicola Naylor’s Amadeus VI (bay gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, s. Olivi ds. Sandro Hit). CDI2* - Small Tour Katie Bailey with Leslie Forlee’s Boccelli 6 (liver chestnut gelding, 12yrs, s. Belissimo M ds. Riccione). Jessica Dunn from Lancashire, with Jennifer Whittaker’s Alicante Valley (liver chestnut gelding, 14yrs, s. Caricello). Charlotte Fry with Van Olst Horses’ Glamourdale (black stallion, 8yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale ds. Negro). CDIY – Young Riders Rebecca Bell from Oxfordshire with Caroline Bell’s Nibeley Union Hit (bay mare, 12yrs, s. Nibeley Union Jack ds. Sandro Hit). Rebecca Swain from Surrey with her own Bon Jovi (chestnut gelding, 13yrs, s. UB40 ds. Ramdra). CDIJ – Juniors Jessica McConkey from Oxfordshire, with her own Lady Gaga II (dark bay mare, 10yrs, s. Quaterback). CDIP – Ponies Lily Laughton from Wiltshire with Alicia Laughton’s Steendieks Cadillac (chestnut gelding, 14.2hh, 8yrs, s. FS Chambertin). Annabella Pidgley from Berkshire with Sarah Pidgley’s Cognac IX (palomino gelding, 11yrs, s. FS Chambertin ds. Waldemar) and Sarah Pidgley’s  Ine  (chestnut mare, 12yrs, s. Constantin ds. Handryk). Hermione Tottman from Hertfordshire with Nicola Tottman’s Brasil (dark bay gelding, 12yrs, s. Sandokkans Leonardo ds. Orchard Davranches). Start lists and results Live stream Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Prestige Italia Big Star Championship Qualifier ? SouthView Competition & Training Centre - 24th May

British Showjumping?s Team NAF announced for Lisbon CSIO3* FEI Nations Cup

The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show One Month To Go

SOUTHVIEW COMPETITION & TRAINING CENTRE TO HOST RELOCATED PONY PREMIER SHOW

Please be aware that the British Eventing Head Office will be closed from 3pm on Wednesday 22 May for a team meeting.

All refunds of entry fees in respect of Bradwall Horse Trials (Sunday 28 April) have now been processed. Please note that it may take a few days for funds to show in bank accounts.

Message from the EHOA:

A bumper weekend of Regional Team competition was hosted by Keysoe EC in Bedfordshire over 10 – 12 May and for the first time the Equissage Pulse Para Home International ran alongside the Senior Home International to give a busy weekend full of awesome dressage action. Eight teams came forward with England strongly represented with two riders from Wales; two from the Northern Region, two from Eastern, both supported by CU Phosco, one from South West, one from Southern and then two were mixed teams. Open to riders graded I to IV and in any section the teams were made of three or four riders with titles for the highest performances in each grade and of course the all-important team honours. In the battle for the team title, the riders from the south west proved tough to topple and a final score over two intense days, the foursome of SW Donald Ducks, Tom Dyer, Anna Mae Cole, Jemima Green and Jamie Winduss finished on 426.36, over 10% to the good of their nearest rivals, Southern Lanson. Grade III Silver rider Tom Dyer rode Elsbeth Greenall’s piebald Henry XVII, who he partnered to win the Winter Championship title in March and their 69 and 72% plus scores were a vital part of helping the team alongside Anna Mae Cole with her own The Gingerbread Man VI, a new partner for the Newton Abbot rider this season. Both Jemima and Jamie were top scorers in their grades which inevitably clinched the team result too. Jemima rode Clare Blaskey and her own Blue Chip Forever. Dutch bred by Johnson, the bay gelding competed up to Advanced Medium in able bodied before Jemima started riding him in March and they’ve already formed quite a bond with a number of 70% plus scores on their record toghether. Grade I Jamie Winduss (17), who combines his riding with comping in wheelchair basketball, rode Alice Pearse’s Wonnacott, his winning partner at this year’s Equisssage Pulse Winter Championships. The duo have been competing together since November last year and are quickly gaining notoriety in the Grade I ranks. Victorious RDO Mandy Heath said; “The region is absolutely thrilled with the great success this weekend of all of our SW para riders. We were lucky to have some experienced team riders alongside some new members this year, riding at a Home International for the first time. Nick Rodgers has worked hard to encourage, support and help our riders and what an amazing job he has done. Congratulations – we’re delighted for each and every one of you!” The Grade III champion was Sharon Kelsall, riding for the Southern Lanson team. She rode Valentino XVIII, who she jointly owns with Louise Latimer Smith. This is another partnership who are in the beginnings of their career together but they’re unbeaten this year in BD competition. Kent rider Katie Radzik dominated the Grade IV with her two rides; C’est la Vie II in the Southern Lanson team and Lollipop in the Swales Rainbows (an amalgamation of riders from Wales, Southern and South West. It was with Joyce Wood’s Lollipop that she triumphed individually with C’est la Vie II, owned by Miranda Vivienne, in second. Bronze Grade V rider Chloe Chadwick was the champion by a comfortable margin. She was riding in the composite team NWC Mergers aboard her own Inosent Flight and added a second individual title of 2019 to the one she earned at the Equissage Pulse Winter Championships. Congratulation to all our riders, their support crews and the team behind the competition for a great few days where the camaraderie, sportsmanship and spirit was truly inspirational. Teams First - South West Donald Ducks, 426.36 Tom Dyer with Henry XVII, Grade III Silver Anna Mae Cole with The Gingerbread Man IV, Grade II Gold Jemima Green with Blue Chip Forever, Grade II Silver Jamie Winduss with Wannacott, Grade I Silver Second – Southern Lawson, 415.5 Katie Radzick with C’est La Vie II, Grade IV Gold Rachel Collins with Finetime, Grade IV Gold Sharon Kelsall with Valentino XVIII, Grade III Silver Third – Eastern CU Phosco Shining, 414.19 Olivia Cornick with Ronaldo, Grade IV Silver Eleanor Currington with Drunkeen Boy, Grade III Bronze (test 21) Sophie Lingfield with Trust April, Grade I Bronze (test 3) Mari Ackhurst with Lebensfreude, Grade I Gold Para Individual Champions Grade I Jamie Winduss with Wonnacott, South West Donald Ducks (Silver) Grade II Jemima Green with Blue Chip Forever, South West Donald Ducks (Silver) Grade III Sharon Kelsall with Valentino XVIII, Southern Lawson (Silver) Grade IV Katie Radzik with Lolliop, Swales Rainbows (Gold) Grade V Chloe Chadwick with Inosent Flight, NWC Mergers (Bronze) Full results – click here Senior Inter Regional report to follow soon. Photo  © www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

The 20th anniversary of the iconic British Dressage competition, the Petplan Equine Area Festivals, begins on May 23 2019 and sees 24 Area Festivals and eight Area Festival Finals taking place throughout the summer season. The series, which was launched in 2000 and is aimed at grass roots riders, has grown from 15 Area Festivals around the country with 555 tests completed in its’ first year to 24 Area Festivals, eight regional Area Festival Finals and the Championships with over 6,000 dressage tests ridden in the 2018/19 series. The Area Festival Championships which was introduced in 2001 had 84 competitors in its’ first year. The most recent Championships in April 2019 had almost 500 tests ridden, illustrating how the Petplan Equine Area Festivals have grown exponentially. As the 20th anniversary season begins the Petplan Equine Area Festivals is the largest competition in the British Dressage portfolio with more than a third of all members at all levels participating. As part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary Petplan Equine is launching the Petplan Equine Area Festival Awards. These very special awards have been designed to recognise the hard work and endeavour that grassroots competitors and their support teams put in to take part in the much-loved Area Festivals. The award categories are: • Inspirational star of the series – do you have a particularly interesting qualification story? • Surprise star of the series – is there something different about your horse or dressage partnership? • Support star of the series – have you got a special supporter you couldn’t be without? • Progressive star of the series – have you worked your way up through the levels? • Perseverance star of the series – have you had to overcome any significant obstacles on your Area Festival journey? Entries open on Wednesday 22 May and close on Tuesday 1 September. The nominations will then be judged by an independent panel of equestrian experts. To take part go to www.petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals/awards where you can nominate your friends, family or yourself. At every Area Festival there will also be the opportunity to nominate for the Awards. Kate Hopkins, Marketing Consultant at Petplan Equine commented, “It seemed fitting in our 20th anniversary year to celebrate the people who make the Petplan Equine Area Festivals what they are and that is the riders, horses and helpers who take part. Over the years we have heard some quite extraordinary stories from competitors. Petplan Equine is so proud to have been a sponsor right from the beginning; we have seen the Area Festivals grow and change and become what is now a fundamental part of the British Dressage calendar.” Linda Whetstone, now Chairman of British Dressage created the concept of the Area Festivals in 2000 and has been astounded at the development of the original idea into the huge competition it is today. “When I first had the idea of the Area Festivals it was quite a different era for British Dressage and I very much wanted to build a competition to encourage grassroots riders to participate. I take great satisfaction from seeing how they have developed with the fantastic support of Petplan Equine. I am sure ‘The Petplans’ as they are fondly known will continue to be a jewel in British Dressage’s crown for decades to come.” Further information about the Petplan Equine Area Festivals is available from the Petplan Equine website or the BD website .

FEI - WARNING ABOUT SYNEPHRINE

Emma Woods from Stirlingshire is May?s NAF Shining Star

Banned Substance may be present in the horse's environment; How to prevent positive findings

The organisers of Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials are delighted to welcome Land Rover back as title sponsor for this, our 30th anniversary event with international status.

The FEI is warning the equestrian community about synephrine, which is a Banned Substance listed on the Equine Prohibited Substances List.

For the first time since the event began in 2013, the Fairfax & Favor Rockingham International Horse Trials (Friday 17 to Sunday 19 May) will run its cross country in an anti-clockwise direction around the castle’s Great Park.

The sun shone brightly on three days of Premier League dressage competition at Addington Equestrian in Buckinghamshire (10 – 12 May 2019). Maria Eilberg pulled off a double victory with her long-term ride, Royal Concert, the 16-year-old gelding she co-owns with Hermione Black. The partnership of six years (pictured) won Friday’s close-fought Cavalor Intermediate II, the grey Royal Diamond son a little on edge but growing in confidence as the test progressed to earn 71.53% and finish in front of second-placed Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic (70.92%) and Joanna Thurman-Baker with Highcliffe Apollo in third (70.26%). Competing on all three days, Maria and ‘Rico’ contested Saturday’s LeMieux Grand Prix – the score kept in check with some costly mistakes in the canter tour. Still, a respectable 67% was on the board for fifth place. With another day in front of them, the pair put on their dancing shoes for Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle and deliver they certainly did, with a runaway plus-four percent lead for their 74.29% performance. “Royal Concert was on top form again in his freestyle today, winning with 74%,” said Maria on Facebook . “He loves his music [and was] very happy with himself after his test.” Maria and Rico have shown much talent in the Grand Prix work as was evidenced with their double Medium Tour victory at Deauville CDI last June. The horse has battled with his nerves in the past but once relaxed, his enthusiasm and quality, channelled by Maria’s riding, can earn them marks from the higher end of the scale. Annabella Pidgley, British team rider at the 2018 FEI European Pony Championships, dominated Saturday’s Pony Team Test by taking first and second with her rides, chestnut mare Ine and the attractive palomino son of FS Chambertin, Cognac IX. Ine (Constantin x Handryk) was number one, winning the class with phenomenal PB of 74.61%, for an almost six percent lead. Annabella and Cognac IX earned 68.63%, just ahead of Olivia Langley and Bathleyhills Sea Wurzel who posted 68.24% to complete the top three. Sunday was a momentous day for young Devon-based rider Scarlett John who won the Pony Individual Test with her 11-year-old gelding BKS Grand Design on their Premier League debut. They scored 69.02% ahead of runners-up Betsy Smethan and Golden Amber, with Olivia Langley and Bathleyhills Sea Wurzel, third. Scarlett trains with Diane Thurman-Baker. Dan Greenwood and Exige M (Samarant x Jazz) impressed in both Friday’s and Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I classes for owners Jenny Welham and Diana Louvain-Miller. Friday saw them claim a second place to Jess Bennett and JB Dukaat, Saturday they won with 73.07%. A ticket to the LeMieux National Championships is now secured for Cotswolds-based Dan and Exige M, who is no stranger to Stoneleigh having won the 2014 Shearwater Supreme title there as a five-year-old. British Dressage thanks all the class sponsors and the team at Addington Equestrian for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below and to all those who took part. The winners: Friday Class 1: Hickstead British Young Horse National 5YO Qualifier Lucinda Elliott with Hawtins Lirica, 8.06 Class 2: Hickstead British Young Horse National 6YO Qualifier Victoria Maw with Benito Dorato, 7.02 Class 3: Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 5YO Qualifier Lucinda Elliott with Hawtins Lirica, 7.90 Class 4: Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 6YO Qualifier Tom Goode with Sakira, 7.80 Class 5: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Kate Cowell with Dramatic Conquest, 71.93% Class 6: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Jess Bennett with JB Dukaat, 70.83% Class 7: Cavalor Intermediate II Maria Eilberg with Royal Concert, 71.53% Saturday Class 8: Pony Team Test Annabella Pidgley with Ine, 74.61% Class 9: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 70.81% Class 10: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Becky Moody with Full Fusion BS, 70.96% Class 11: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Dan Greenwood with Exige M, 73.07% Class 12: LeMieux Grand Prix Becky Moody with Carinsio, 70.76% Sunday Class 13: Pony Individual Test Scarlett John with BKS Grand Design, 69.02% Class 14: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Jayne Turney with Cruz III, 70.48% Class 15: Advanced 105 Antonia Brown with SJL Duuk, 62.10% Class 16: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gareth Hughes with Sintano Van Hof Olympia, 71.22% Class 17: Shearwater Young Horse 4YO Qualifier Dylan Deutrom with King Boy, 7.74 Class 18: Shearwater Young Horse 5YO Qualifier Lucy Amy with Jaliva, 8.06 Class 19: Shearwater Young Horse 6YO Qualifier Judy Harvey with SP Bento, 7.94 Class 20: Prix St Georges Freestyle Olivia Towers with Mercian Edjena, 70.45% Class 21: Grand Prix Freestyle Maria Eilberg and Royal Concert, 74.29% For full results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Paul Barker dominates the Connolly?s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at the REC Arenas

Robert Murphy scoops the win in the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Second Round at REC Arenas

Michaela Webb wins the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at Nottinghamshire County Show

Glain Watkin Jones heads the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at Arena UK

The Mark Todd Bridging the Gap (MTBTG) training series is well underway for 2019, with courses taking place around the country aiming to help riders bridge the gap between Intermediate and Advanced/3* classes.

British Eventing is looking to appoint an Independent Chair of Selectors to oversee the selection process for both the Junior and Young Rider squad.

The BD Training and Education team is delighted to announce the lineup for this year’s Principles of Judging Seminar. Returning to Moulton College in Northamptonshire on 5 – 6 October, judges, trainers, riders and dressage fans alike will be treated to a rare opportunity to learn from three of the most globally respected FEI judges, Isobel Wessels, Clive Halsall and Peter Storr. Leading lady Isobel Wessels is one of only four FEI 5* judges in Britain. As part of this prestigious role she’s judged at the 2018 World Young Horse Championships, Senior European Championships, multiple European Championships for U21s riders and World Cup qualifiers. Away from her judging duties, Isobel has competed successfully to Grand Prix and also passes on her knowledge as a much sought after coach. Fellow FEI 5* judge Clive Halsall has been part of panels worldwide at many a high profile international event and will also judge at this year’s FEI Senior European Championships to be held in Rotterdam in August. For Lancashire based Clive, a busy judging schedule is balanced alongside coaching commitments, including his position as British Pony Team Trainer. BD Judges Director and FEI 4* level judge Peter Storr returns to the Principles of Judging Seminar following a popular appearance in 2018 and will without doubt bring all of his expertise, as a judge, rider and trainer. Having ridden at World Equestrian Games, European Championships and been reserve for the British Team for the Sydney Olympics in 2002, Peter made the decision to commit his career to judging and has forged an impressive reputation which has taken him all across the world. With live arena demonstrations and class room sessions, expect an interactive, immersive weekend of education led by three progressive judging talents. Covering Intro to Prix St Georges, sessions will delve into discussion around quality of paces, lateral work, scales of marking, test riding and more with plenty of opportunity to participate, ask questions and voice your opinion. The full timetable will be released later in the year, follow the BD website for the latest news. Early bird tickets are on sale now! Discounted tickets* are available for just £30 (day) and £60 (weekend) for listed and trainee judges, and for and all others £35 (day) and £65 (weekend). Why not make a weekend of it? Join us on the Saturday evening for a drinks reception and meal with the BD team, Judges Committee and fellow judges, add this option, alongside weekend accommodation, when buying your tickets. Buy tickets online today or call the Training and Education team on 02476 698833 to book over the phone. *Please note: booking fees apply when purchasing tickets online. Early bird ticket sales close at 23.59 on Friday 14 June 2019.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is delighted to confirm the appointment of GEORGINA SHARPLES as the new Performance Manager for Para-equestrian Dressage. The British Para-equestrian Dressage team is one of the most successful in the world – with the Rio 2016 Paralympics and Tryon 2018 WEG yielding 15 medals in total. Georgina will work with such riders as Paralympic gold-medallists Sir Lee Pearson CBE, Sophie Wells MBE and Natasha Baker MBE. She will lead the team at international competitions, European Championships, World Championships and Paralympic Games. A former international hockey player and bobsledder, Georgina led the Trampoline Programme at British Gymnastics, and is no stranger to Paralympic sport having been Head of Performance at ParalympicsGB overseeing athlete services, Games preparation, classification, sport science and sport medicine since London 2012. Georgina will take up the Para-Dressage role whilst retaining a Head of Performance Support strategic role with the English Institute of Sport (EIS) across the Equestrian Team GBR World Class Programme (WCP). The BEF will continue to work in collaboration with the EIS on further developments in this area. Commenting on her new role Georgina said “I am delighted to be joining the team and immensely privileged to have the opportunity to lead such a well-regarded and high-performing World Class Programme on the journey to Tokyo 2020 and beyond. This is a really exciting time to be involved. It is a Programme with strength in depth; established medal-winning partnerships, exciting developing combinations, talented athletes combined with an incredible support team and I know we will relish the journey as we fully focus on our preparation for delivering personal best performances next summer in Tokyo 2020.” Performance Director at the BEF, Vikki Underwood, says “We are delighted that Georgina will take up the role of Performance Manager for the Para-equestrian Dressage Programme following a unanimous decision by the selection panel. We will also continue to benefit from her retaining the strategic leadership of the Performance Support services which will be critical as we move closer to Tokyo and the new Paris cycle.” The BEF is also delighted to announce that ERIK MACKECHNIE-GUIRE will be the new Performance Pathway Manager for Para-equestrian Dressage. There are exceptional riders coming through the ranks and Erik will work alongside these riders to support them on their journey to the podium. Erik has more than 20 years’ experience working with high performance athletes including as a coach with the Team GBR Para-equestrian Dressage team and as Para-equestrian High Performance Manager with Team Australia. Commenting on his new role, Erik said “It is a really exciting time to be joining the team. I am looking forward to working with an outstanding team of practitioners who collectively underpin and support our Paralympic athletes to create an environment where our athletes can grow and develop to achieve Podium success for Team GBR”. Erik and Georgina will work together to deliver an effective programme that recognises potential, encourages growth and drives medal success in Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. BEF Chief Executive Nick Fellows, says “I am delighted with these new appointments and the high level commitment we are able to demonstrate to our Paralympic programme. Both Georgina and Erik have excellent knowledge and experience and know our team well. They will bring an added edge to our preparations for Tokyo 2020 and help us ensure we maximise all possible performance advantages as well as building the programme for the future.”

RELOCATION OF THE 25 ? 27 MAY PONY PREMIER SHOW

BEF and British Rowing help deliver a bespoke programme for both sports

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, 13-19th May, the Equestrian Employers Association (EEA) launches Employers Minds online which provides tools, to support mental health including a mental wellbeing checker, self-help zone, video scripts and real life case studies.

This great sporting weekend sees competitors of the highest calibre competing for five British Championship titles including The Magic Millions British Open CCI4*-S.

FINAL DAY OF ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW

Event Rider Masters Press Release:

It was a truly international line-up at the end of a thrilling weekend of competition at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials, where a bumper crowd enjoyed exciting sport and some welcome sunshine.

BRITISH JUMPERS DOMINATE ON DAY FOUR OF ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW

Following further inspections of the site at Llanymynech (1) today, all competition on Sunday 12th May will be going ahead.

Piggy French’s brilliant run of form continued with a double of wins at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials. The 38-year-old from Maidwell, Northamptonshire, has spent the week celebrating her first Badminton victory and now, less than a week later, adds a double of international wins with her star horses of the future.

With last night’s torrential rain making way for sunshine, it was back to the idyllic setting in the shadow of Windsor Castle for the final leg of the CDI4* at Royal Windsor Horse Show, the Al Shira’aa Freestyle. Earlier in the day news filtered through that last night’s runners up Carl Hester and his own and Jane de la Mare’s Nip Tuck had withdrawn when ‘Barney’ injured himself in the stable overnight which opened the field up somewhat. Charlotte impressed many last night with her catch ride on Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz, who she's riding while Sonnar recovers from a badly broken leg, but tonight the duo took it to a whole new level in only their second Freestyle outing together. Electing to ride to her floor plan set to music from Disney’s film ‘How to train your dragon’ which suits the horse almost as much as Valegro, Charlotte rode a masterful test and ‘Early’ grew in confidence with each moment. There was one sticky moment when she asked for the first double canter pirouette on the centre line bang in front of the H, C and M judges and as she set up and started, the horse just appeared to die on her, losing canter and into walk. She recovered well but it would prove very costly if it couldn’t be rectified later in the test. But Charlotte is the master of Freestyle and she managed to fit one in at the end of the test which the judges clearly agreed with. A near-capacity crowd rewarded what they’d seen with rapturous applause and even more so when 81.9% flashed up. Afterwards, Charlotte admitted; “I think I had him too close to the board and as I set him up for the pirouette and he just dropped me! I was like ‘GO!’ but it was too late and I had to pick him up and start again. I then kept thinking where I could fit it in and then I couldn’t remember what let it was so it was a proper freestyle. [Judge] Katrina Wuest said to me in the prize giving that she gave me a two for the first one and a nine for the second so it would have been very expensive had I not re done it!” On the test itself she explained; “It’s only our second Freestyle and I’ve only really been riding him for about four months so it’s all still very new. He tries so hard but he lacks self-confidence and I have to give it to him, almost say ‘you can do it’. You can’t suffocate him and he’s got to find his confidence; he hasn’t got that instant ‘go’ button like my others. “He’s a different horse now to Keysoe as he’s so much stronger. The lovely thing is he has the temperament to do it and he’s talented at all the thing which earn high marks. He’s the horse that everyone would like to own and is just like a giant teddy bear. “It’s such a pleasure to ride him and I don’t feel the pressure. Plus, I’m enjoying putting my experience into the horse to help Sonnar in the future.” Owner Sonnar was on hand to watch his boy compete and he reported that he’s just come off his crutches and the next step is to have some of the smaller screws put in to mend the broken tibula and fibula out. Once that’s done, his rehabilitation can start in earnest and then get back in the saddle. Second place went to Briton Richard Davison with his own and Gwendolyn Meyer’s Bubblingh with 78.31%. Richard has managed his home bred hope carefully to build confidence and has been active on the FEI World Cup circuit as a ‘baptism of fire’ for competition experience. Tonight that certainly seemed to have paid off with the Lingh sired 13 year old looking much better after a further year at Grand Prix level under his belt. His ‘Gangsters Paradise’ inspired music isn’t to everyone’s taste but it certainly had the crowd captivated. There were a number of highlights including a piaffe pirouette bang on the lively beat and the tightest canter pirouettes of any combination on the night. Richard told us; “I’m really pleased. When we arrived on Wednesday he was very fresh and I’d wondered if my plan had worked but he really settled. It’s the little things now like last night after the test when I walked out of the arena I could drop my rein and he happily walked out of the arena. One judge said they’d given me a ten so something must have been right!” The pair are off to Compiegne next week as part of Team GBR’s Nations Cup quartet. Third went to Irish combination and last to go Heike Holstein and her home bred ten year old talent Sambuca with 74.91%. They didn’t get off to the best start with a canter in their first extended trot but once that mistake was behind them, the mare seemed to take a breath and focus on the task in only their second Freestyle appearance in eight months at the level. “I’m thrilled!” she exclaimed afterwards. “She was very nervous at the start. Last night she got a bit of a fright, I think it was the rain on the judges’ huts but once she settled it was really lovely.” Fourth was Louise Bell and the delectable Into the Blue; their lively country music routine was mistake free but for one trot stride going into a canter pirouette for 73.34%. The remaining British rider, Vicky Thompson Winfield with Sam Francis’s Mango Jacaro finished sixth on 68.55% with their entertaining James Bond medley. Once again it was a delight for dressage to be a part of The Royal Windsor Horse Show and we’re grateful to Al Shira’aa for their support of the CDI. Thanks to the team at Horsepower for an excellent show. Full results – click here  

The British Dressage Pony Selectors Nikki Herbert and Leanne Wall are delighted to release a longlist of eight names (nine combinations) as their longlist in contention for one of four places on the Team NAF squad for the upcoming Pony European Championships in Strzegom, Poland, 14-18 August 2019. Combinations (in alphabetical order): Bonneville Bourne (16) from Ashford, Kent with her own Fin C We (liver chestnut gelding, 14.2hh, 16yrs, s. Famos ds. Eiger III) Holly Kerslake (15) from Lifton Devon with her own and Carl Trock’s Valhallas Zorro (black stallion, 14.1hh, 10yrs, s. Valhallas Lord Matrafal ds. Fjordglimts Sir Johnson) Lily Laughton (15) from Chippenham, Wiltshire with Alicia Laughton’s Steendieks Cadillac (chestnut gelding, 14.2hh, 9yrs, s. FS Chambertin) Isobel Lickley (14) from Albrighton, Staffordshire with Robert and Nicola Lickley’s Mister Snowman (liver chestnut gelding, 14.1hh, 13yrs, s. The Braes My Mobility ds. Llanarth Most Triton) Annabella Pidgley (14) from Windsor, Berkshire with Sarah Pidgley’s Cognac IX (palomino gelding, 14.1hh, 11yrs, s. FS Chambertin ds Waldemar) and Sarah Pidgley’s Ine (chestnut mare, 14.1hh, 12yrs, s. Constantin ds. Handryk) Steffi Tomlinson (15) from Chester, Cheshire with Tracy Tomlinson’s Vivassa (liver chestnut mare, 14.1hh, 12yrs, s. Vivaldi) Hermione Tottman (15) from St Albans, Hertfordshire with Nicola Tottman’s Brasil (dark bay gelding, 14.2hh, 12yrs, s. Sandokkans Leonardo ds. Orchard Davranches) Olivia Whitelaw (15) from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire with her own Brouwershaven’s Viceroy (bay gelding, 14.2hh, 10yrs, s. Jurjen H) Pony and rider combinations listed are those from which the Team/or Individuals and Reserves are likely to be selected, but others may be considered for selection if they reach the requirements set out in the Selection Policy. The Team NAF Pony shortlist will be announced following Hagen CDIOP/CDIP during the week commencing 17 June. The selectors, riders, team staff and all at British Dressage are extremely grateful for the support of our generous team sponsor NAF and team supplier LeMieux.

The British Dressage Junior and Young Rider Selectors Nikki Herbert and Leanne Wall are delighted to release their longlists of riders in contention for a place on the Team NAF Junior and Young Rider teams for the European Championships in San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy on 24 – 28 July 2019. Junior combinations (in alphabetical order): Caitlin Burgess (18) from Ilfracombe, Devon with her own Chocotof (brown gelding, 12yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale) Clare Hole with (17) from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk with her own and Lynne Jackson’s Pro-Motion (bay gelding, 16yrs, s. Pro-Set) and Rachel Murray’s Winnetou GEP (black gelding, 12yrs, s. Gribaldi ds. Donnerhall) Jessie Kirby (16) from Wallingford, Oxfordshire with Sarah Carmichael’s Belle Amie (bay mare, 13yrs, s. Florencio) Jessica McConkey (17) from Watlington, Oxfordshire with her own Lady Gaga II (bay mare, 10yrs, s. Quaterback ds. Solos Landwind) Charlotte McDowall (17) from Newent, Gloucestershire with her own Alivia (back mare, 14yrs, s. Olivi ds. Roemer) Chloe Naylor (15) from Foston, Derbyshire with her own Karisma (chestnut gelding, 12yrs, s. Holme Grove Prokofiev) Olivia Wrennall (16) from Slough, Buckinghamshire with Nicola Hand and Tessa Thorne’s Disneyland (liver chestnut gelding, 10yrs, s. Diamond Hit) Young Rider combinations (in alphabetical order): Rebecca Bell (19) from Faringdon, Oxfordshire with Caroline Bell’s Nibeley Union Hit (dark bay mare, 12yrs, s. Nibeley Union Jack ds. Sandro Hit) Isobel Berrington (19) from Welwyn, Hertfordshire with Aimee Witkin’s Bing (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Trento B ds. Hucarlos) Angus Corrie-Deane (19) from Salisbury, Wiltshire with his own Tiny Tempur (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Raikano) Charlotte Dicker (20) from Stockbridge, Hampshire with her own Sabatini (brown mare, 14yrs, s. Stedinger ds. Sherlock Holmes) Alexandra Hellings (19) from Bakewell, Derbyshire with Sonia Baines’ Uvender V (bay gelding, 18yrs, s. Krack C ds. Juventus) Megan Ingham (20) from Wokingham, Berkshire with Coral Ingham’s Wanadoo (chestnut gelding, 18yrs, s. Wolkenstein II ds. Cavalier) Lara Kuropatwa (18) from Malmesbury, Wiltshire with Sian Kuropatwa’s For Season (liver chestnut gelding, 9yrs, s. Fifty Cent 2 ds. Voltaire) Rebecca Swain (18) from Godalming, Surrey with her own Bon Jovi (chestnut gelding, 13yrs, s. UB40 ds. Ramdra) Junior and Young Rider combinations listed are those from which the Team/or Individuals and Reserves are likely to be selected, but others may be considered for selection if they reach the requirements set out in the Selection Policy. The Team NAF Junior and Young Rider shortlists will be announced following Hagen CDIO/CDI during the week commencing 17 June. The Team NAF Junior and Young Rider Teams and Reserves will be announced during the w/c Monday 24 June. The selectors, riders, team staff and all at British Dressage are extremely grateful for the support of our generous team sponsor NAF and team supplier LeMieux.

Addington Equestrian in Buckinghamshire got their Premier League fixture underway this morning and what a high quality contingent of riders they have for the third Premier League competition of 2019. Three days of top dressage from today, Friday, through to Sunday (10 – 12 May). This morning the focus was on young horses with qualifiers for the Hickstead National Championships while the International equivalent runs this afternoon with good representation from some strong British breeding alongside some of Europe’s premier breeding on show. Visitors Friday will also have a mammoth Fairfax Saddles PSG line-up to look forward to. Lizzie Murray has her her winning 2018 Small Tour Championship partner Ulyssa while Tom Goode rides Langley. There's a few combinations who showed strong form at the recent NAF Five Star Winter Championships in the mix too, such as Nathalie Kayal and DHI Cleverboy, Becky Moody and Full Fusion BS and Jess Bennett with JB Dukaat. Friday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I also boasts a top field with Paul Friday bringing forward three rides. The Cavalor Inter II ends day one; Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina, Lucy Pincus and Sheepcote Doncalisto, Joanna Therman-Baker and Highcliffe Apollo and Maria Eliberg with Royal Concert must be ones to watch here. On Saturday there’s the chance for our Pony riders hoping to catch the selectors’ eye with a good performance and then it’s a day of Small and Big Tour Action. Large Fairfax Prix St Georges and Saracens Horse Feeds Inter I classes will run throughout the day and, fresh from Windsor, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin will be in action in the PSG with their young stars Brioso II and River Rise Nisa respectively. Starting at 11:12 on Saturday is the LeMieux Grand Prix. Carl Hester will be in action with his 2018 World Equestrian Games partner Hawtins Delicato while team mate Emile Fauie has two rides in Shilo and Quentano 2. Crowd pleasers Steph Croxford and My Hyde are entered as are Becky Moody and Carinsio. Pammy Hutton has two rides also. Sunday starts at 9am with another bumper Advanced Medium section, this one acting as a qualifier for the Equine Construction Championships later this year. Also in action is a third massive Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges section which includes Gareth Hughes and exciting prospect Sinanto Van Hof Olympia and Judy Harvey riding Palimera. There are Freestyle classes at both PSG and Grand Prix to bring some musicality to Sunday in the indoor arena which are followed at 11:40 by Shearwater Young Horse qualifiers for four, five and six year old horses. Leanne Wall and Nereide Goodman are the judges presiding over the action. For all this, simply head to the newly refurbished Buckinghamshire venue – entry is free on all three days. Addington boasts a high quality cafeteria with amazing pies and viewing of the main arena. Programme Friday 09:00 Hickstead British Young Horse National 5YO Qualifier 09:00 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I 09:30 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 11:28 Hickstead British Young Horse National 6YO Qualifier 12:40 Hickstead British Young Horse International 5YO Qualifier 13:12 Cavalor Intermediate II 14:28 Hickstead British Young Horse International 6YO Qualifier Saturday 09:00 Pony Team Test 09:00 Advanced Medium 09:30 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 09:30 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I 11.12 LeMieux Grand Prix Sunday 09:00 Equine Construction Advanced Medium 09:00 Prix St Georges Freestyle 09:30 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 10:00 Pony Individual Test 10:12 Grand Prix Freestyle 11:14 Advanced 11:40 Shearwater Young Horse 4YO Qualifier 13:30 Shearwater Young Horse 5YO Qualifier 15:25 Shearwater Young Horse 6YO Qualifier For start lists click here For results click here Venue website click here  

Last week Team NAF and a host of British young riders took centre stage at the CDIO Nations Cup competition in Saumur, France (2 – 5 May 2019). With teams gathering from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, the battle for the top spots in the Nations Cup competitions was extremely close fought. In the Pony ranks, Holly Kerslake, Annabella Pidgley, Isobel Lickley and Bonnie Bourne produced four super tests to put Team NAF onto the third place spot on the podium. On board her own and Carl Trock’s Valhallas Zorro, Holly enjoyed three plus 70% scores and three top ten placings; Staffordshire teen Isobel Lickley also achieved the same feat with Robert and Nicola Lickley’s 13 year old Mister Snowman to finish close on Holly’s heels in all three tests. With Sarah Pidgley’s eye catching palomino gelding Cognac IX, Annabella Pidgley rode to three 69% tests and making her Nations Cup debut, Bonnie Bourne produced two promising tests in the Team and Individual classes with her own Fin C WE. Team NAF also enjoyed a podium placing in the Junior Nations Cup event as Clare Hole, Olivia Wrennall, Charlotte McDowall and Jessica McConkey (pictured) delivered the goods in a competitive team test. Taking fifth place individually in the team event and the freestyle final, Clare Hole and Winnetou GEP earned stellar results in Saumur on their Nations Cup debut together. New combinations Charlotte McDowall and her own Alivia, and Olivia Wrennall with Tessa Thorne and Nicola Hand’s Disneyland both notched up promising results for the future including 68% scores in the team test, with Charlotte going on to achieve sixth in the freestyle earning 70.80%. On board her own Lady Gaga II, 2018 team rider Jessica McConkey showed her experience in the individual test to place fifth with 69.20%. With several riders travelling to the iconic French venue to contest the CDI classes, Great Britain was well represented and more top placings would follow. Enjoying a good start to the year at Junior FEI level, Caitlin Burgess (18) and her own Lord Leatherdale son Chocotof gained mileage and some super scores in the CDIJ competition; in the team test the duo rode for 68.78% and fifth, before going on to score an impressive 71.37% in the freestyle to music, picking up a third place ribbon for their efforts. Young riders Lara Kuropatwa and Alex Hellings improved each day in the CDIY competition. Making the step up to young riders with Sian Kuropatwa’s nine year old For Season (Fifty Cent x Voltaire), eighteen year old Lara picked up a brilliant second place in the individual competition with 70.44% plus fifth in the freestyle with 71.30%. Speaking from her Facebook page Lara said, “Wow! What a week I’ve just had in Saumur competing Fergus at his first CDI abroad - and his first International at Young Rider level. I’m just so proud of this horse and how he took it all in his stride and is just becoming more and more confident in the arena- he’s really starting to live up to his potential!” Fellow Young rider Alex Hellings and her own Uvender V, a former team combination at Junior level, earned fourth in the individual test with 69.70% before going on to take a top three placing of their own in the freestyle competition finishing third with a new personal best score of 72.78%. Congratulations to all British riders and their support teams who travelled to the event to take part. Thanks go to team sponsors NAF  for their generous support, as well as LeMieux for kindly providing beautiful branded Team NAF kit. Results CDIO-P Team 1st Shona Benner with Der Kleine Sunnyboy, 73.80% (GER) 7th Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 70.42% (GBR) 8th Isobel Lickley with Mister Snowman, 70% (GBR) 9th Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 69.54% (GBR) 13th Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 68.60% (GBR) CDIO-P Nations Cup 1st Germany, 219.62 2nd The Netherlands, 215.60 3rd Great Britain, 209.97 4th France, 204.88 5th Belgium, 204.62 CDIO-P Individual 1st Antonia Busch Kuffner with Daily Pleasure WE, 74.82% (GER) 8th Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 70.31% (GBR) 9th Isobel Lickley with Mister Snowman, 70.22% (GBR) 11th Annabella Pidgley with Cognax IX, 69.50% (GBR) 12th Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 69.36% (GBR) CDIO-P Freestyle 1st Shona Benner with Der Kleine Sunnyboy, 78.37% (GER) 7th Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 73.33% (GBR) 8th Isobel Lickley with Mister Snowman, 72.25% (GBR) 11th Annabella Pidgley with Cognax IX, 69.83% (GBR) CDI-P Team 1st Carlotta Wendenburg with Equestricons Day of Diva, 74.47% (GER) 18th Annabella Pidgley with Ine, 65.57% (GBR) 23rd Isobel Lickley with Valido’s Sunshine, 63.47% (GBR) CDI-P Individual 1st Lara van Nek with Brouwershaven’s Nairobi, 74.45% (NED) 16th Isobel Lickley with Valido’s Sunshine, 67.56% (GBR) 17th Annabella Pidgley with Ine, 67.34% (GBR) CDI-P Freestyle 1st Lara van Nek with Brouwershaven’s Nairobi, 74.95% (NED) CDIO-J Team 1st Tabea Schroer with Filegra, 72.66% (GER) 5th Clare Hole with Winnetou GEP, 69.21% (GBR) 7th Olivia Wrennall with Disneyland, 68.30% (GBR) 8th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 68.18% (GBR) 15th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga II, 67.03% (GBR) CDIO-J Nations Cup 1st Germany, 210.75 2nd The Netherlands, 207.39 3rd Great Britain, 205.69 4th France, 203.45 5th Switzerland, 202.94 6th Belgium, 197.03 CDIO-J Individual 1st Laura Stuhldreier with Diabolo Nymphenburg, 72.23% (GER) 5th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga II, 69.20% (GBR) 8th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 68.55% (GBR) 11th Clare Hole with Winnetou GEP, 67.23% (GBR) 18th Olivia Wrennall with Disneyland, 65.11% (GBR) CDIO-J Freestyle 1st Laura Stuhldreier with Diabolo Nymphenburg, 74.86% (GER) 5th Claire Hole with Winnetou GEP, 70.86% (GBR) 6th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 70.80% (GBR) 15th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga II, 66.07% (GBR) CDI-J Team 1st Sanne van der Pols with Excellentie, 70.65% (NED) 5th Caitlin Burgess with Chocotof, 68.78% (GBR) 11th Clare Hole with Pro-Motion, 64.94% (GBR) CDI-J Individual 1st Sanne van der Pols with Excellentie, 71.11% (NED) 8th Caitlin Burgess with Chocotof, 65.52% (GBR) 9th Clare Hole with Pro-Motion, 65.02% (GBR) CDI-J Freestyle 1st Sanne van der Pols with Excellentie, 73.43% (NED) 3rd Caitlin Burgess with Chocotof, 71.37% (GBR) 9th Clare Hole with Pro-Motion, 67.82% (GBR) CDI-Y Team 1st Laura de Graeve with Feuertanz, 69.41% (BEL) 5th Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, 66.22% (GBR) 6th Alex Hellings with Uvender V, 65.78% (GBR) CDI-Y Individual 1st Coco Soffers with Formidable, 71.61% (NED) 2nd Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, 70.44% (GBR) 4th Alex Hellings with Uvender V, 69.70% (GBR) CDI-Y Freestyle 1st Laura de Graeve with Feuertanz, 74.25% (BEL) 3rd Alex Hellings with Uvender V, 72.78% (GBR) 5th Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, 71.30% (GBR) For full results click here . 

GREAT BRITAIN'S HOLLY SMITH BEATS SOME OF WORLD'S BEST AT WINDSOR

MASTERFUL MAHER ON WINNING FORM IN LAND ROVER STAKES

Georgina Sharples is Performance Manager; Erik MacKechnie-Guire is Pathway Manager

Due to persistent heavy rain throughout the week and further rain forecasted overnight, all competition at Llanymynech on Saturday 11th May has been abandoned following an inspection of the site this evening.

Caroline Chew had the honour of getting the Al Shira’aa Grand Prix underway for Singapore tonight in the shadow of Windsor Castle as part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2019. And an impressive start they made with a ‘clear round’. Trained by Matt Frost, the duo are no strangers to the big occasion as they rode at last year’s World Equestrian Games and this was their first international outing since. A score of 68.45% set the bench mark for the others to follow. It was then the turn of the first British representatives, Vicky Thompson Winfield with Sam Francis’s Rondeno IX sired stallion Mango Jacaro, the current MCI European Champion. They started with great expression and activity but he became a bit unsettled in the piaffe – almost appearing to try too hard to please – which impacted on the rhythm but Vicky used her experience to ease him through. The two time canter changes were spot on but some tension just crept in towards the finish to peg the marks back in the latter stage for a final score of 66.3%. Rustique and Mai Tofte Olesen were third in for Denmark and they had plenty of highlights to score 67.91%. Next was one of the combinations most had come to see, Charlotte Dujardin, fresh from meeting HM The Queen earlier with Valegro, with Sonnar Murray Brown’s lovely Trakehner Erlentanz. Of course Charlotte is merely deputising for Sonnar while his broken leg mends. She started with clear intent with a bold first diagonal of effortless extended trot. Riding with a forward flow throughout, Charlotte and ‘Early’ got their two and one time changes and rode an excellent canter pirouette centreline with good energy and consistency. It was good…and mistake free, what did the judges make? 78.08% was the score, with both Peter Storr at H and Stephen Clarke at B feeling it was worth 80% plus. Straight on to Richard Davison with Gwendolyn Meyer and his own Bubblingh on their third trip to Windsor. A year on, the duo have grown in maturity and ‘Bubbles’ looked more relaxed in the atmospheric arena than on previous visits. Richard’s skill avoided a canter in the second extended trot and there was a mistake in the two time canter changes but a final impressive extended trot and centre line with awesome regularity in the piaffe and passage despite the pouring rain. Their score was 72.97% which put them second. It was then the turn of one of the most experienced and revered combination in the field, Carl Hester with his own and Jane de la Mare’s Nip Tuck. The duo made a welcome return to international competition at Keysoe where they were double victors but could they hold the same form? Carl rode with his usual master genius, coaxing every mark possible while ‘Barney’ looked more than happy to please and show his skill in front of the appreciative crowd. There was just a bit of swing in the piaffe/passage down the final line but otherwise it was a lovely test with super fluency and accuracy to score 74.3% to overtake Richard and Bubbles. Niina Nilosaari was next for Finland with KOM Ragdoll. They suffered a little bit with Windsor nerves which kept her marks down as the tension built and built to end with 62.95%. She was followed by Dutch pairing Tommie Visser and Chuppy Checker CL. The horse showed plenty of pleasing moments but was on a mission and didn’t settle to the task at hand and had a very expensive extended walk where he jogged most of the diagonal. However, they were marked 69.21% and higher scores are on the horizon for the duo. The final Brit was Louise Bell and Into the Blue. It was a momentous occasion as ‘Dynamo’ was making a return to Windsor having competed here previously with Louise as a working hunter; not many horses can boast competing on the hallowed ground of Windsor in two disciplines. Their test was impressive, mistake free with clear progress and improved consistency. Louise finished with a huge smile…which quickly turned into a sigh of relief that Dynamo had managed to contain his exuberance! They posted 70.6% which is huge for the pairing to break that magic score internationally. It was then the turn of our two Irish visitors and as three time Olympian Heike Holstein entered with her own Sambuca, the heavens opened and the rain got heavier and heavier, less than ideal. At just ten, Sambuca is relatively new to Grand Prix but there were some strong moments form the Samarant sired mare which the judges rewarded alongside some green ones but 70.37% is a new Grand Prix PB in only their fifth international together. The rain just got heavier and heavier for Dane Rawlins and Espoire and they didn’t look to be enjoying their task. Dane used all his experience and determination to get through for an extremely respectable 66.6%. In his own unique style, he joked by doing breast stroke as he exited the arena, showing a sense of humour to the end. He darted off and get changed ahead of coaching the Hickstead Young Rider Quadrille who are performing an eightsome reel as part of the Windsor Pageant later – let’s hope the rain eases off. So the victor was Charlotte Dujardin as it was in 2017 but this time with catch ride Earlentanz. Afterwards she said; “It’s only our third Grand Prix together and we’re still getting to know each other. I’m really pleased; he tried is heart out and I can’t ask for more than that.” Second place went to Carl Hester and crowd pleaser Nip Tuck who described his ride as ‘careful and precise’ while Richard Davison completed the podium of Brits with Bubblingh and Louise Bell and Into the Blue fourth to complete domination of the top placings by the home nation. The Al Shira’aa Freetyle takes place in the Castle Arena tomorrow night – tickets are still available or you can watch via the website www.rwhs.co.uk – just click on the Windsor TV link. Full results – click here  

British Dressage is delighted to announce Sharon Lindop has been ratified as Chairman for the Scotland region . Sharon has been acting in an interim capacity during Deborah Adamson’s illness and sad passing. Following a successful application and interview process, Sharon has now been formally ratified to the position. Originally qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Aberdeenshire based Sharon (pictured) has spent most of her career in the energy sector, working with internationally renowned brands like BP and Shell on finance matters, business planning and leadership development. In July 2011, she set up her own business, Lin’terim, which provided interim management services to help inexperienced and under resourced companies. Sharon has been an active dressage competitor since 2005 and has qualified for most major Championships across the levels. She proudly represented the region last year at the Senior Home International, finishing ninth with the Scottish Prancers team and has a busy season ahead riding at Small Tour level. In just a few months supporting Emma Stewart, Regional Development Officer for Scotland and the volunteer committee, Sharon has made a positive impact. Communication, fundraising, governance and community have been high on the agenda and members are seeing benefits including the inaugural BD Scotland Ball which was a great success. Sharon commented; "I’m really pleased to be able to put my general business experience to use in helping to run dressage, a sport that I am very passionate about, in Scotland. The region has an outstanding committee of high energy individuals who have a lot of ideas and who collectively deliver a great variety of learning opportunities, events and information to the membership. It’s a pleasure to work with them and I’m sure that we will have a lot of fun as we continue to help develop the sport, horses and riders in our region." At headquarters, the British Dressage Senior Management Team is now complete with the recent appointment of Marketing Manager Becca Tuttle. Becca joins us from Serco Leisure where she held a national marketing role covering key contracts covering National Sports Centres including the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepoint, Bisham Abbey, Lilleshall and Stoke Mandeville. Key areas of responsibility included creation and delivery of marketing plans, new product launches, advertising campaigns, digital marketing, branding, events and ticket sales strategy. “I’m incredibly excited to have taken on the new role of Marketing Manager and to start working with the team to build on and develop the existing marketing activity and brand presence of British Dressage,” said Becca. “I’m looking forward to bringing with me the experience I have of working in other sport and membership based organisations to ultimately encourage more people to join BD and engage with the great services, competitions and events that are on offer,” she continued.

It was a strong showing for the quintet of riders who headed to the legendary Cadre Noir in Saumur France for the CDI3*/2*/U25 with all achieving top eight placings throughout including two wins for Jess Dunn in the Small Tour ranks on her first trip to Europe to compete internationally. In the CDI3*, Gareth Hughes was best Brit with Rebecca Hughes’ Trento B sired Classic Briolinca in both the Grand Prix and Freestyle. The duo were runners up in the Grand Prix behind Spanish Olympic pair Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Delgado with 73.39%. Louise Bell narrowly missed a +70% score with her own and Tonya Wood’s Into the Blue to finish eighth. In the Freestyle, Gareth and Briolinca impressed again to score well with 76.55% which put them third. On Facebook he said; ‘she was a rather impatient princess in her halts gaining threes but showed off her talent in the piaffe/passage gaining nines!’ Louise and ‘Dynamo’ improved one place with their Freestyle routine to earn 72.2% and seventh spot. The story of the weekend came in the CDI2* Small Tour classes as both British riders acquitted themselves on their first trip to represent Britain on the continent. In the PSG, it was Cheshire rider Helen Dutton who impressed with her own Valdorama D with a personal best 70% which earned second spot. Not far behind was Jess Dunn with Alicante Valley, owned by Jennifer Whittaker, on 68.97% which left them just off the podium in fourth. A step up in difficulty to the Inter I and it was Jess’s turn to shine with ‘Chello’. A score of72.05% left them nearly two percent ahead of the nearest challengers to take their maiden European victory. Helen and ‘Valde’ finished fifth on 67%. It was then Inter I Freestyle to finish off the week and again Jess rose to the challenge to post a fabulous76.04% test with the Dutch bred Alicante Valley – this time by an even more impressive margin of nearly four and a half percent. Helen and Valdorama D ended their first show on European soil with 69.37% which gave them sixth spot. In the U25 division, our sole representative was Ellie McCarthy with Bridget McCarthy’s Belissimo M sired Belafonte and they earned two podium places. In the Inter II they were narrowly edged into third with 67.2% while in the U25 Grand Prix it was one place better for the runners up spot with 65.81%. Full results – click here CDI3* Grand Prix 1. Beatriz Ferrer-Salat with Delgado (ESP), 75.19% 2. Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca (GBR), 73.39% 8. Louise Bell with Into the Blue (GBR), 69.82% Grand Prix Freestyle 1. Beatriz Ferrer-Salat with Delgado (ESP), 77.52% 3. Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, (GBR), 76.55% 7. Louise Bell with Into the Blue (GBR), 72.20% CDI2* Prix St Georges 1. Jos Hogendoorn with Convalaria (NED), 70.78% 2. Helen Dutton with Valdorama D (GBR), 70% 4. Jess Dunn with Alicante Valley (GBR), 68.97% Inter I 1. Jess Dunn with Alicante Valley (GBR), 72.05% 5. Helen Dutton with Valdorama D (GBR), 67.5% Inter I Freestyle 1. Jess Dunn with Alicante Valley (GBR), 76.04% 6. Helen Dutton with Valdorama D (GBR), 69.37% CDIU25 Inter II 1. Cedric Gallinard with Scherzo ZC (FRA), 68.67% 2. Ellie McCarthy with Belafonte (GBR), 67.2% Grand Prix 16-25 1. Carl-Iennart Korsch with Ayers Rock BB (SUI), 66.88% 2. Ellie McCarthy with Belafonte (GBR), 65.81%

The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show British Showjumping Members Exclusive Deal

Following British Eventing's first video 'Ask BE' session, hosted on Monday 29 April, please find below the full list of pre-submitted and live questions received.

There are just two weeks to go until the 2019 Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International, incorporating the FEI Eventing Nations Cup. This year the event runs from 23rd - 26th May and will, as usual, welcome riders from across the globe.

Buy your tickets now at the early bird rate to the ultimate Cotswolds equestrian event, the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, held at Gatcombe Park the home of HRH The Princess Royal, 2 – 4 August 2019. 

All refunds of entry fees in respect of Sapey(1) 2019 have now been processed. Please note that it may take a few days for funds to show in bank accounts.

Douglas Weymouth from Warwick Hall Horse Trials gives an update on their preparations;

SAP, The Official Technology Sponsor of the Event Rider Masters Series (ERM) together with ERM, today announced the addition of three new apps to their suite of fan engagement tools for followers of the leading European Eventing series.

This week, top riders from across the world will challenge some of Britain’s best when the Royal Windsor Horse Show hosts the Al Shira’aa CDI4* Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 May, respectively. Among the world-renowned names competing is home-grown hero Carl Hester, the London 2012 team gold medallist and a rider who needs no introduction. Having already achieved so much within the discipline, Hester will be looking to further add to his illustrious collection of medals and accolades, as he returns riding Nip Tuck. The pair is sure to be backed by vociferous domestic support. Household name, and the first dressage rider ever to win Sky Sportswoman of the Year in 2014, Charlotte Dujardin, will be returning to the iconic grounds after giving spectators a masterclass in success when she claimed victory at the show in 2018. Teammate and friend to Carl Hester, the pair will be putting their friendship to one side as they go head-to head. Joining the British contingent will be Olympian Richard Davison. After coming third – following Dujardin and Hester – in 2018, Davison will be setting his sights on top spot, along with fellow Brits, Louise Bell and Vicky Thompson Winfield. Adding to the British line-up will be a strong start list of international talent, including Caroline Chew, Katherine Bateson Chandler, Kate Dwyer and Heike Holstein. British riders selected to compete : Louise Bell from Oxfordshire with her own and Tonya Wood’s Into the Blue (roan gelding, 13yrs, s. Ublesco ds. Calvaro Z). Richard Davison from Staffordshire with Gwendolyn Sontheim’s Bubblingh (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Lingh ds. Picandt). Charlotte Dujardin from Gloucesterhire with Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz (brown gelding, 12yrs, s. Latimer). Carl Hester from Gloucestershire with his own and Jane De La Mare’s Nip Tuck (bay gelding, 15yrs, s. Don Ruto). Vicky Thompson Winfield from West Sussex with Samantha Francis’s Mango Jacaro (bay stallion, 14yrs, s. Rondeño IX). Best of British equestrian displays to perform at Queen Victoria’s Pageant The best of British equestrian displays will perform at The Pageant on the evenings of 9, 10 and 11 May, joining a host of exciting international acts. Taking place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle, the performers and their equine companions will arrive from all over the country to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth. There will be a strong representation of the British Military, including The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, which will fire its famous 25 pounder guns to conclude The Pageant. A moving highlight of the evening will be a re-enactment of the Charge of The Light Brigade to Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s famous “Into The Valley of Death Rode The Six Hundred” poem, read by Simon Callow CBE, which will capture some of the extraordinary sacrifices made during the Crimean War. Travelling from all over the country will be some of Great Britain's most talented young dressage riders who will perform an Eightsome Reel on horses, choreographed by dressage legends Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Dane Rawlins – a special tribute to Queen Victoria’s love of Balmoral and the Highlands. They will be accompanied by Scottish dancers performing one of her favourite reels. The 90-minute show is staged by a BAFTA award-winning team and will transport the audience back to the Victorian era, drawing on some of its typical characteristics, such as the singalong Music Hall, favourites from Gilbert & Sullivan, and a mass tribute to Charles Dickens. Debbie Wiseman OBE, one of our foremost composers, has arranged and composed much of the music. Hansom Cabs, Coster Carts, Omnibuses and London Carriages, together with leading side saddle riders, will bring music from Oliver to life. By kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen, The Royal Mews will be exhibiting some rarely seen coaches and carriages from its collection. Riders of the Land Rover Shetland Pony Grand National and the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games will enter a combined race for the first time. Representing every corner of the British Isles, the competition will be fast and furious as they race over fences and twist in and out of Pony Club games. The ‘Act’ will represent Queen Victoria’s interest in everything to do with ponies, which she rode later in life. Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “The Pageant will capture the wonders of the Victorian era through world-class displays and musical dialogue. There is an exceptional level of national and international equestrian talent involved in the show, and it is fantastic to be marking the occasion by bringing them together to celebrate this fascinating time.” How to watch Royal Windsor Horse Show Action from CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show, which takes place from 8-12 May 2019 is set to be broadcast with an extensive live schedule allowing viewers across the world to tune in to the best that the Show has to offer. For those wanting to watch the Show live, Royal Windsor Horse Show offers a free live streaming service, which will be available on the Royal Windsor website , with a number of classes also streamed live on the Royal Windsor Facebook page. Enabling fans to enjoy the elite international competitions including the CDI4* Al’Shiraa Dressage Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, the live streaming platforms are a welcome addition to the Show. The Horse & Country TV coverage of Royal Windsor will provide highlights of the week’s top-tier classes. On the evenings of 19, 20 and 21 May, the 9.00pm primetime slot on Sky channel 184 will show highlights of the CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup, CDI4* FEI Al Shira’aa Grand Prix Freestyle to Music, and Extreme Driving. Timetable Ticket information Start lists and results

British Showjumping?s Team NAF Youth Squads announced for Lamprechtshausen Nations Cups

British Showjumping?s Team LeMieux Pony Squad announced for Lamprechtshausen Nations Cup

ROBERT WHITAKER WINS THE MAIN EVENT, WHILE LAURA RENWICK MAKES IT A DOUBLE AT ROYAL WINDSOR

Nunney International Horse Trials, on June 14, 15 and 16,  offers the perfect opportunity to watch top equestrian sports people in action while at the same time discovering the picturesque countryside of south Somerset.

The team at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials, 6 – 9 June 2019, have signed a new deal with long term vehicle suppliers Land Rover which expands its support to the title sponsorship of the event’s CCI4*-S.

HOW TO WATCH CHI ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW

SHOWJUMPING'S ELITE TO CONTEST ROLEX GRAND PRIX IN WINDSOR CASTLE'S PRIVATE GROUNDS

Adam Taylor scores a one-two in the Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round at Willow Banks Equestrian Centre

CHEPSTOW SPRING INTERNATIONAL

Blenheim Palace Horse Trials have a position available to join the core organising team based at Blenheim Palace

The KBIS British Eventing Personal Accident Insurance is a bespoke policy designed in conjunction with British Eventing to provide members with access to comprehensive Personal Accident Insurance at preferential rates.

Hosted for the first time at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, the BE Members’ Pavilion welcomed members through its doors to enjoy five days of world-class competition with spectacular views across the Badminton Estate.

Looking back over another excellent 4 days of competition there were a few eye catching performances that we have not yet looked at in detail.  One of those was William Fox-Pitt on Little Fire. Across country and in the show jumping this horse looked so scopey and so powerful, it is no wonder William described […]

An incredible day of sport resulted in a first CCI5*-L win for British rider Piggy French and a one-two for Great Britain at the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Dedicated volunteer Carol Challis receives her 2017 South East Volunteer of the year award at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials.

It's the final day of the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and there is just the final phase of show jumping standing between us and seeing who will take victory at the event's 70th anniversary. Here is how to get a front row seat to watch all the action.

Cross Country day saw a tough course as to be expected at Badminton and from a breeding point of view the Irish Sport Horse rose to the top. Oliver Townend retained his overnight lead, although on his second placed dressage ride – Ballaghmor Class, son of the Holstein stallion Courage II. The use of Holstein […]

The Eric Winter-designed Mitsubishi Motors Badminton cross country course caused a huge shakeup to the overnight leader board, but Great Britain’s Oliver Townend maintains his top spot heading in to tomorrow’s show jumping.

Very sadly the organisers of Poplar Park (2) Horse Trials, in consultation with British Eventing, have made the difficult decision to cancel their upcoming event, scheduled to take place on 18-19 May.

Only 11 British bred horses came forward to start the dressage phase of the 2019 Badminton Horse Trials. With last year’s victors Jonelle Price and Classic Moet not defending their title this year, we look at some of remaining British bred contenders who we hope can keep British breeding in the headlines. Probably our best hope […]

British Showjumping?s Team NAF announced for Uggerhalne CSIO3* FEI Nations Cup

Day two of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials produced more incredible scores, as British riders continue to shine with Great Britain’s Oliver Townend sitting in first and second place.

BEF continues to recommend owners arrange a booster every 6 months

At the end of the first day of dressage at the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, British riders dominate the leader board with Oliver Townend heading the standings on a record-breaking Badminton dressage score of 19.7 penalties.

Unfortunately we are becoming increasingly aware of a number of incidents where members are behaving in an unacceptable way towards organisers, officials, volunteers, staff or other members. 

Badminton Horse Trials Press Release:

Great Britain’s Susan Pape achieved top-ten placings in strong company at the prestigious Hagen CDI4* in Germany, this year themed ‘Horses & Dreams meets France’ (24 – 28 April 2019). Riding Harmony’s Don Noblesse (Dancier x Don Davidoff), a 12-year-old black stallion owned by Harmony Sporthorses, Susan achieved ninth in the Grand Prix for Special on a score of 71.63% followed by 10th in the Special with 70.66%. Both classes were won by the home nation’s Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo 59 at their first show since a fire destroyed the Rothenberger family’s training centre at the end of February. “I’m very pleased with him [Don Noblesse],” commented Susan following her return home to Hengststation Pape in Hemmoor, North Western Germany, where she’s based with husband Ingo Pape. “I’m very happy. The horse has gained so much more strength and although there are still areas where he can improve, he gave me a very good feeling. He’s a marvellous horse, and my favourite of them all.” As a five year old, Harmony’s Don Noblesse reached the finals of the Bundeschampionate and was subsequently bought from the PSI auction. He stood in the finals of the prestigious Nürnberger Burgpokal and in the Louisdor Cup for upcoming Grand Prix horses and finished third in both classes. In 2017, in his first Grand Prix season, he earned several wins and high placings to get selected for the Nations Cup in Rotterdam. Following a year out after Rotterdam, the breeding stallion has come back stronger than ever, as was evidenced with two plus-70% Grand Prix Special scores at Wellington in Florida where Susan bases herself for two months of every year. “And he’s not even at his peak yet,” she says. “He’s a strong horse and it’s a nice feeling knowing that there’s more to come.” Susan, who trains with her husband Ingo and Michael Klimke, moved to Germany in 1982 and enjoyed several years under the tutelage of the great Herbert Rehbein and his wife Karin, rider of the legendary dressage stallion Donnerhall. “I did my apprenticeship and worked with Karin Rehbein for seven years. It was an incredible time, grooming for Karin and the great Donnerhall, and it was there that I met my husband.” She accredits many of her top ride’s qualities to his Donnerhall ancestry. “I can see and feel Donnerhall in Don Noblesse. The strength in the body…the talent for collected work…the way of collecting. There are so many similarities. He has a very good mind also. It doesn’t matter what stall he’s in at a show, or flying, so long as he has something to eat, he’s fine. “I’m delighted to ride such a horse and thankful for the opportunity they [Harmony Sporthorses] give me to ride these horses.” Results of the British riders: CDI4* Grand Prix – qualification for Freestyle 1st Frederic Wandres with Duke of Britain, 73.848% (GER) 20th Emma Hindle with Diesel 8, 65.500% (GBR) Full results CDI4* Grand Prix – qualification for Special 1st Sönke Rothenberger with Cosmo 59, 81.239% (GER) 9th Susan Pape with Harmony’s Don Noblesse, 71.630% (GBR) 14th Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, 68.978% (GBR) 19th Emile Faurie with Café’s Caletta, 68.022% (GBR) 22nd Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 66.196% (GBR) Full results CDI4* Grand Prix Special 1st Sönke Rothenberger with Cosmo 59, 79.638% (GER) 10th Susan Pape with Harmony’s Don Noblesse, 70.660% (GBR) 15th Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, 66.489% (GBR) Full results CDI4* Grand Prix Consolation 1st Lone Bang Larsen with Bakkely’s Onandt, 71.014% (DEN) 4th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 69.239% (GBR) 11th Emile Faurie with Café’s Caletta, 65.652% (GBR) Full results

It was a pillar to post win for BE100 Champion, Alana Sparrow and Mr Rasshied Din’s Angels Spirit, with Laura Greenhalgh taking the BE90 Championship on Sarah Reeve’s Stanhopes Travelling Man.

We are deeply saddened to announce that Roy Burek, Chairman of Charles Owen, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday 27 April following a heart attack.

Eventing world champion Ros Canter (GBR) has overtaken compatriot Oliver Townend to claim the number one spot in the Eventing World Rankings for the first time, ending Townend’s 12-month reign at the top of the leaderboard.

Storm Hannah may have left some challenging conditions in her wake as high winds whipped across the UK, but this didn’t detract from three days of top class dressage last week at Keysoe Premier League in Bedfordshire (26 – 28 April 2019). Charlotte Dujardin and Erlentanz (pictured) were the outstanding winners of the LeMieux Grand Prix on Friday. Multi-medallist Charlotte and 12 year old ‘Erly’ were awarded a score of 78% from the judging panel comprising Finland’s Paula Nysten at C, Kirsty Mepham at M and Mark Ruddock at B, to take the class by a margin of more than ten percent. Charlotte has temporarily taken the ride on Erlentanz (by Latimer) whilst owner-rider Sonnar Murray-Brown continues his recovery from a broken leg, and they’ve been producing high quality Grand Prix performances since, despite their short time together. Charlotte knows the talented Trakehner well having played a part, alongside Carl Hester, in Sonnar’s training and is giving the gelding valuable arena exposure whilst Sonnar is sidelined. They won at Myerscough Premier League in March before claiming second to Carl Hester and Nip Tuck in both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at Keysoe CDI. Next month they contest the Al Shira’aa sponsored Windsor CDI4* in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Reflecting on her previous day’s ride, Charlotte took to Facebook to say; “Wonderful day yesterday at the Keysoe Premier League with Erlantanz who won the Grand Prix with 78%. [He’s] Such a lovely horse, with so much to give. Thank you to Alan [Davies] and Ian Cast for your help. Next stop Royal Windsor Horse Show which I am very very excited for.” Young French rider Camille Audo impressed on Friday, winning a competitive Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges with her new ride, the up and coming Grand Prix horse Behroez (United x Gribaldi). On only their third competition outing together the promising combination achieved a score of 71.49% to take the 40-strong class. Camille who is based with her trainer Sarah Millis in West Sussex now heads to Saumur CDI with Behroez to contest the Young Rider divisions for France. Herefordshire’s Kate Cowell was on winning form Friday too, achieving a Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I victory with 71.89% aboard the elegant Sirocco (by Sandro Hit) for owner Helen Illes. Kate was thrilled with Sirocco who was experiencing his first competition outing since Vale View High Profile last November. She took to Facebook to say; “Super star Sirocco! Winning the Intermediate I at Keysoe Premier League with 71%. His first show for 2019 and he felt amazing; he's really improved with the intensive winter training.” Saturday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges was ably won by Debbie Poynter and her 14 year old Florencio son, Keystone For Real, on a score of 69.47%; and the Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I by Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Davina, fresh from their Small Tour double at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. Alice and ‘Davina’ achieved a cracking score of 74.69% before also taking Sunday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges with 72.94%. Sunday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I was won in style by Andrew Gould and Blue Hors Dexter (Don Schufro x Blue Hors Cavan), a black 12 year old owned by Terry and Joan Barnett-Knott. The pair, who’ve competed together just a handful of times scored 70.92%, with Daisy Coakley and Cleopatra and Dannie Morgan with Southern Cross Braemar completing the top three. On Saturday afternoon, freestyle classes from Advanced Medium to Grand Prix took centre stage in the indoor. Maria Eilberg, team silver medallist at the Senior European Championships in 2009, was the convincing winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle with her own and Hermione Black’s Royal Diamond son, Royal Concert, on a score of 73.16%. Now 16, the talented, sensitive grey gelding is showing increased confidence in the arena. He and Maria won the Grand Prix Freestyle at Keysoe High Profile last November and were recently sixth in the Freestyle at Keysoe CDI. In the Pony divisions, Olivia Whitelaw and Martha Jobling-Purser won the Team and Individual tests respectively. Pony Prime Squad member Olivia and Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, a Dutch-bred 10 year old by Jurjen H, earned a score of 70%; the new combination of Martha and Valido’s Starlight (Valido x Capri Moon) scored 70.61%. Martha who has a wealth of experience in the show ring, has ridden Valido’s Starlight, the ride of Megan Barrett at the 2018 Pony European Championships, since last autumn. A highlight of Sunday was the Cavalor Inter II which emphasised how many younger riders are working their way towards Grand Prix. In the line-up were riders such as Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Fiesta, who also contested the Grand Prix, Joanna Thurman-Baker with her Young Rider European Championship partner Highcliffe Apollo, and Izzy Chaplin and Vincente II who won the Petplan Equine Inter II Silver at Hartpury earlier this month. The combination to take the honours however was 21 year old London based German rider Julia Giner with her 16 year old gelding Wytens on a score of 68.64%. British Dressage thanks all the class sponsors as well as Simon Bates and his team at Keysoe for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below, and to all those who took part. The winners Friday Class 1: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 71.05% Class 2: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Camille Audo with Behroez, 71.49% Class 3: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Kate Cowell with Sirocco, 71.89% Class 4: LeMieux Grand Prix Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 78.00% Class 5: Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 5YO Qualifier Antonia Brown with SJL Baks Zacco, 79.2 Class 6: Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 6YO Qualifier Tom Goode with Sakira, 78.0 Saturday Class 7: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Davina, 74.69% Class 8: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Debbie Poynter and Keystone For Real, 69.47% Class 9: Pony Team Test Olivia Whitelaw with Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 70.00% Class 10: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Dylan Deutrom with San Marco, 73.96% Class 11: Hickstead British Young Horse National 5YO Qualifier Melissa Chapman with Jaguar DHI, 7.88 Class 12: Hickstead British Young Horse National 6YO Qualifier Judy Harvey with SP Bento, 8.26 Class 13: Advanced Medium Freestyle Jasmine Harding Heitzmann with Deco, 69.277% Class 14: Prix St Georges Freestyle Ellie McCarthy with Donna Summer, 71.70% Class 15: Intermediate I Freestyle Tahley Reeve Smith with Special, 72.37% Class 16: Grand Prix Freestyle Maria Eilberg with Royal Concert, 73.16% Sunday Class 17: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Davina, 72.94% Class 18: Cavalor Intermediate II Julia Giner with Wytens, 68.64% Class 19: Pony Individual Test Martha Jobling-Purser with Valido’s Starlight, 70.61% Class 20: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Fiona Brenna with De Angelis II, 72.11% Class 21: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Andrew Gould with Blue Hors Dexter, 70.92% Class 22: Shearwater Young Horse 4YO Qualifier Femke Meiland with First Lady, 44 Class 23: Shearwater Young Horse 5YO Qualifier Alex Hardwick with Joie De Vivre Prins, 44.5 Class 24: Shearwater Young Horse 6YO Qualifier Mark Mills with Washington DC, 44.1 Class 25: Shearwater Young Pony 4YO Qualifier Frances Turner with Dypool Miami Reef, 38.6 Class 26: Shearwater Young Pony 5YO Qualifier Vikki Pengilly with Cynheidrefawr Isaac, 39.6 Class 27: Shearwater Young Pony 6YO Qualifier Abigail Edwards with Penbee Savannah, 30.3 For full results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Saumur CDI3*/CDI2*/CDIU25 in France (2 – 5 May 2019). CDI3* Big Tour Henriette Andersen from Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, with her own Flavio (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Florencio ds. Glueckspilz). Louise Bell from Banbury, Oxfordshire, with her own and Tonya Wood’s Into the Blue (roan gelding, 13yrs, s. Ublesco ds. Calvaro Z). Gareth Hughes from Southam, Warwickshire, with Rebecca Hughes’ Classic Briolinca (bay mare, 13yrs, s. Trento B ds. Royal Dance) - pictured. CDI2* Small Tour Jessica Dunn from Burnley, Lancashire, with Jennifer Whittaker’s Alicante Valley (liver chestnut gelding, 14yrs, s. Caricello). Helen Dutton from Wirral, Cheshire, with her own Valdorama D (bay gelding, 17yrs, s. Flemmingh). CDIU25 Ellie McCarthy from New Milton, Hampshire (based in Germany) with her own Belafonte (chestnut stallion, 15yrs, s. Belissimo M ds. Wendekreis). For start lists and results click here . Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Ten talented combinations share the top spot in the Prestige Italia Big Star Championship Qualifier at Weston Lawns Equitation Centre

Brand Hall International Press Release:

The first day of the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Cup saw some incredible scores in both the BE90 and BE100 Championship, with less than 4.3 penalties separating the top ten in the BE100 and 5.8 in the BE90.

It is with great disappointment that we announce that 2019 will be the last year that Belton International Horse Trials will run at Belton House.

RIDERS TO RUN RINGS ROUND HICKSTEAD IN MEMORY OF TIM STOCKDALE

 

Many of the world’s best horses and riders will be in action at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials in the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s spectacular parkland on the weekend of May 10-12.

It came down to the last jump, but Great Britain’s Oliver Townend successfully defended his title of champion at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN by putting in a perfect performance in the show jumping with Cooley Master Class with a score of 25.3.

We regret to inform you that following an inspection all competition due to take place today at Bradwall Horse Trials has been abandoned. The ground is waterlogged following heavy overnight rain.

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Saumur CDIOY/J/P and CDIY/J/P at the iconic Cadre Noir, the French national riding school (2 - 5 May). Team NAF will be represented by two teams at Pony and Junior level who'll be proudly sporting their NAF team kit and branding, kindly provided by fellow team supporters LeMieux. Make sure to follow the latest news and results from Saumur on the BD Youth facebook page and show your support with #TeamNAF. CDIOP Bonnie Bourne from Pluckley, Kent, with her own Fin C WE (liver chestnut gelding, 16yrs, s. Famos) Holly Kerslake from Lifton, Devon, with her own and Carl Trock's Valhallas Zorro (black stallion, 10yrs, s. Valhallas Lord Matrafal) Isobel Lickley from Albrighton, Staffordshire, with Robert and Nicola Lickley's Mister Snowman (liver chestnut gelding, 13yrs, s. The Braes My Mobility) Annabella Pidgley from Windsor, Berkshire, with Sarah Pidgley's Cognac IX (palomino gelding, 11yrs, s. FS Chambertin) CDIP Isobel Lickley from Albrighton, Staffordshire, with Robert and Nicola Lickley's Valido's Sunshine (bay mare, 16yrs, s. Valido) Annabella Pidgley from Windsor, Berkshire, with Sarah Pidgley's Ine (chestnut mare, 12yrs, s. Constantin) CDIOJ Clare Hole from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, with Dr Rachel Murray's Winnetou GEP (black gelding, 16yrs, s. Gribaldi) Jessica McConkey from Watlington, Oxfordshire, with her own Lady Gaga II (dark bay mare, 10yrs, s. Quaterback) Charlotte McDowall from Highleadon, Gloucestershire, with her own Alivia (black mare, 14yrs, s. Olivi) Olivia Wrennall from Slough, Berkshire, with Tessa Thorne and Nicola Hand's Disneyland (liver chestnut gelding, 10yrs, s. Diamond Hit)  CDIJ Caitlin Burgess  from Berrynarbor, Devon, with her own Chocotof (dark brown gelding, 12yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale) Clare Hole  from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, with her own Pro-Motion (bay gelding, 16yrs, s. Pro-Set CDIY Alexandra Hellings from Bakewell, Derbyshire with Sonia Baines' Uvender V (bay gelding, 18yrs, s. Krack C) Lara Kuropatwa  from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, with Sian Kuropatwa's For Season (liver chestnut gelding, 9yrs, s. Fifty Cent) Click here to visit the event website.  Start lists and results to follow. 

Ahead of the initial Test Riding and Viewing for the 2019/20 season and the 2019/20 Selection Policy, which is due to be published in the late autumn, Selectors are outlining the requirements for qualification at all levels and stages of the season to facilitate U21 riders and their plans. The 2019/20 season will run from 1 September 2019 until 31 August 2020. Initial Test Riding and Squad Viewing Viewing for all categories - Ponies, Juniors, Young Riders and Children on Horses - will be held on Sunday 8 September at The Unicorn Trust, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1JZ. The day will consist of test riding, with an FEI Judge and with Selectors in attendance, covering the following tests: FEI Pony Team Test / FEI CoH Team Test / FEI Junior Team Test / FEI Young Rider Team Test Combinations wishing to ride at this viewing will need to have achieved two scores of 67% or above, from different judges at two separate affiliated shows, or internationally, at the relevant test levels detailed below. Scores must be achieved within the preceding six calendar months to close of entries. Entries will close 16 August 2019 and will be offered on BookWhen from six weeks prior to this date. • Ponies: FEI Pony Team Test, FEI Pony Individual Test, Medium 75 or 76 • Children on Horses: FEI COH Team Test, or Elementary 55, 57 or 59 • Juniors: FEI Junior Team Test (Adv Med 92), FEI Junior Ind Test (AM 96) or AM 98 • Young Riders: FEI Young Rider Team Test (PSG) or FEI YR Individual Test Combinations selected for inclusion on the 2019/20 International Squad will be notified in the week following this event. 2019 European Championship Team, Individual and Reserve combinations are not required to attend the Viewing Day but will still need to achieve the qualifying 68% at test riding or a Premier League show before going abroad. For further information including details of the 2019/2020 winter training programme, please follow this link or email Sharon Weir in the BD office.

On Friday 19 April, Hartpury College was host to the Baileys Horse Feeds Jump Training Championships. Jump Training (JT) is open to both BE Members and non-members and boasts the unique training element where BE Accredited Coaches are on hand to provide advice and feedback on your jumping in real time.

The Event Rider Masters is back for 2019! Kicking off on 11 and 12 of May, ERM give a run-down of what to expect at the first leg of the season’s series at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials.

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Waregem CPEDI3* in Belgium (26 – 28 April 2019). Grade I Mari Durward Akhurst from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with Glesni Owen’s Sky O’Hara (brown gelding, 20yrs, s. Welt Hit II ds. Lector). Grade II Julie Payne from Oxford, Oxfordshire, with her own Pandora (chestnut mare, 18yrs, s. Pascal) - pictured. Lee Pearson from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with his own Breezer III (bay gelding, 8yrs, s. Bacardi) and Julie Daly’s B Grandeur (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Grannex ds. Ilmeo). Grade III Erin Orford from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with Charlie Zehetmayr’s LJT Diamond Crusador (bay gelding, 6yrs, s. Diamond Hit). Amanda Shirtcliffe from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, with her own New-Princess (black mare, 12yrs, s. Newman ds. World-Art). Grade IV Heather Bennett from Goole, Humberside, with Elizabeth Haigh’s Guinevere Aimbry (chestnut mare, 8yrs, s. Totilas). Nicola Naylor from London with her own Donnatella H (liver chestnut mare, 11yrs, s. Status Quo ds. Clavecimbel) and her own Ferrari (black gelding, 9yrs, s. Wynton ds. Contango). Izzy Palmer from Leeds, Yorkshire, with Deborah Doyle’s Grand Bolero K (bay gelding, 8yrs, s. Spielberg ds. Eugebio) and Sophie Wells’ Touchdown M (bay gelding, 19yrs, s. Jazz ds. Fundus OLD). Marcelle Ward from Chichester, West Sussex, with her own Dornroeschen (chestnut mare, 13yrs, s. De Niro ds. Rosenschnee). For start lists  click here For results  click here Live stream - Grade I, II and III Live stream - Grade IV and V

Keysoe Equestrian in Bedfordshire is making final preparations before welcoming a high quality contingent of riders for the second Premier League competition of 2019. Here’s a taster of what promises to be three days of top dressage from Friday through Sunday (26 - 28 April). The show gets underway at 8am on Friday with a competitive Equine Construction Advanced Medium. Featured are some interesting combinations including San Marco who was the the 2016 Shearwater six year old Champion with his late owner-rider Caroline Church. San Marco, owned by Caroline’s son Will, will be making his Premier League debut with young rider Dylan Deutrom. Visitors Friday will also have a quality Fairfax Saddles PSG line-up to look forward to. Lizzie Murray presents two horses – the Totilas son Timolin and her winning 2018 Small Tour Championship partner Ulyssa – both talented young horses on the up. Charlotte Crocker-Westlake with Gaspar De Valle and Tom Pett and Curioso bring an Iberian feel, and all eyes will be on Tom Goode and Langley, a young horse who gained quite a fan club at the 2018 BD National Convention. Starting at 1pm Friday is the LeMieux Grand Prix. Charlotte Dujardin will make a second competition appearance with Erlentanz whilst owner-rider Sonnar Murray-Brown continues to recover from a broken leg. Charlotte and ‘Erly’ (pictured) competed together for the first time in March at Keysoe CDI3* where they finished close second to Carl Hester and Nip Tuck in the Grand Prix and Freestyle – such is the strength of this fledgling partnership. Grand Prix contenders include FEI 5* Judge Isobel Wessels with Chagall, young rider Lucy Pincus who has two rides, Maria Eilberg with Royal Concert, Bobby Hayler and Aldborough Rubinhall who won at Wellington Premier League in 2018, and Louise Bell and Into The Blue who’ve just returned from Sint-Truiden CDI3* in Belgium. Fresh from a phenomenal NAF Five Star Winter Championships where they did the Small Tour double, Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Davina go into Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I as ones to watch; the same day’s Fairfax Saddles PSG includes youth talent such as 2015 FEI Pony European Championships team gold medallist Rebecca Bell with her Young Rider partner Nibeley Union Hit, and talented young French rider Camille Audo. The Hickstead British Young Horse qualifiers start with the five year olds at 1.58pm followed by six year olds at 4.30pm in front of judges Jenny Ward and Michel Assouline, whilst indoors from 4pm are Freestyles from Advanced Medium to Grand Prix. Sunday starts at 9am with another bumper Fairfax Saddles PSG class. Kate Cowell, FEI Young Rider European Team Bronze medallist in 2000, has two rides forward – Rayban and Firmino; and Emily Harris, 2007 FEI Pony European Team Bronze medallist, presents her exciting prospect Freya FST. Sunday afternoon’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I is a must-see. Dannie Morgan, who had the best week of his dressage career so far last month at Hartpury, will be riding his own and Sue Becvar’s Southern Cross Braemar; Rebecca Edwards rides Headmore Delegate, and Andrew Gould who was on the same bronze medal-winning Young Rider team as Kate Cowell, rides Blue Hors Dexter, a horse with whom he’s achieved exciting results so far in their short time together. From midday onwards, judges Nicola McGivern, Nikki Herbert and Chris Porterfield preside over the Shearwater Young Horse and Pony qualifiers between them, an opportunity to see many of Britain’s emerging equine talent as they are assessed for their potential as future performers. For all this, plus a chance to see the FEI Pony tests on Saturday and Sunday, simply head to Bedfordshire’s premier venue. Keysoe boasts a high quality cafeteria and entrance is free on all three days. Programme Friday 08:00 Equine Construction Advanced Medium 09:00 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 09:00 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I 13:01 LeMieux Grand Prix 13:45 Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 5YO Qualifier 15:21 Hickstead British Young Horse FEI 6YO Qualifier Saturday 9:00 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 9:00 Pony Team Test 9:00 Equine Construction Advanced Medium 11:50 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I 13:58 Hickstead British Young Horse National 5YO Qualifier 16:30 Hickstead British Young Horse National 6YO Qualifier 16:00 Advanced Medium Freestyle 16:56 Prix St Georges Freestyle 17:28 Intermediate I Freestyle 18:32 Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday 9:00 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 9:00 Cavalor Intermediate II 9:00 Equine Construction Advanced Medium 14:04 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I 14:20 Pony Individual Test 12:01 Shearwater Young Horse 4YO Qualifier 14:17 Shearwater Young Horse 5YO Qualifier 16:49 Shearwater Young Horse 6YO Qualifier 12:01 Shearwater Young Pony 4YO Qualifier 15:53 Shearwater Young Pony 5YO Qualifier 17:56 Shearwater Young Pony 6YO Qualifier For start lists click here For results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

'MEMBER DISCOUNT' TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR OLYMPIA, THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW

 

The British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Podium Potential Pathway Programme 2019-2021 squad of 30 talented riders has been announced. The selected athletes attended an Induction Day at Solihull Riding Club, West Midlands today and were welcomed on to the programme. Riders listened to several inspirational speakers focusing on what it takes to win, maximising their potential as an athlete, being part of the legacy plus an insight from double Olympic Champion Helen Glover MBE on her Olympic journey. The BEF Head of Performance Pathways, David Hamer, presented an overview to the riders of the pathway programme and challenged the athletes to consider what is talent and if this is an innate ability or can be developed into a skill. David explained “This is an exciting stage in the newly structured performance pathway as we now have three clear stages of the athletes journey starting here in developing the foundation skills to support their sport and sporting career. To achieve this standard these young athletes have already shown capabilities and the programme will now support them to aid their potential.” Riders who have been selected for the two year programme, funded by UK Sport National Lottery and Sport England, will have the opportunity to access top equestrian specialists including: international coaches, human sport science and medicine practitioners (physiotherapists and psychologists) and equine sport science and medicine practitioners (farriers, saddlers, vets and equine physiotherapists) via a series of squad training sessions. The Podium Potential Pathway Programme, which replaces the former Excel Talent Programme, will bring the performance foundation skill development level into the main World Class Performance Pathway and looks to identify, support and develop athletes who demonstrate the potential to progress to Podium Potential, by providing education to develop the foundation skills required for future performance. The dressage athletes accepted onto the two-year programme are:   DRESSAGE Lewis Carrier Lucy Amy Joanna Thurman-Baker Ellie McCarthy Angus Corrie-Deane Lara Kuropatwa Isobel Berrington Jessica McConkey   PARA Marcelle Ward Jessica Phillips Rowan Crosby Kyrby Brown

Podium Potential Pathway Programme 2019-2021 Showjumping Squad is announced

50 Day Countdown to the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show

The British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Podium Potential Pathway Programme 2019-2021 squad of 30 talented riders has been announced and have b...

Next in the series of ‘AskBE’, Board Directors will be in the BE Pavilion at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (1-5 May) to answer questions and to listen to feedback.

 

WITH just 50 days to go until this year’s Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show the final countdown is well and truly on. With a feast of world class show jumping and dressage, the North’s iconic equestrian event will bring together the very best British riders including Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin and the Whittakers; it’s a family entertainment galore there’s no better place to be this summer. Held in the stunning setting of Bolesworth Castle, the show runs June 12 to 16 and includes a packed line-up of competition featuring many of the leading riders from home and abroad. The show gets underway on Wednesday 12th with five, six and seven-year-old Young Dressage Horse Viewing Trials as well as an Advanced Medium class, Big Tour Grand Prix and Small Tour Inter 1 Freestyle Dressage to Music. Following the popularity over the last two years Carl Hester is back and has teamed up with renowned dressage rider, trainer and FEI 4* Judge, Peter Storr for the 2019 dressage demonstration. This well-known duo will bring to spectators a fascinating showcase titled - ‘80% Is The New 70%’ – Through The Eyes Of The Judges – in the International Arena at 7pm. Show jumping gets underway in the Castle Arena with four, five and six-year-old age classes and national classes look set to prove as popular as ever in the Lake Arena. Dressage continues to be the focus on the Thursday as the big guns take centre stage in the Prix St Georges and Grand Prix Freestyle. This year’s show will once again host the exciting Cazenove Capital Eventing Grand Prix featuring top names such as the ever popular Alex Hua Tian. Taking place during the evening performance on the Thursday, this exciting feature class will be a fast and furious competition and provides great entertainment for ringside spectators. And as part of a new innovation, the top five placed riders in the class will qualify to compete in the final leg at the Theraplate UK Liverpool International Horse Show in December. A second qualifying leg will run at the Bolesworth Young Horse Championship Show in August. This high calibre invitational spectacle will see 20 leading event riders tackle a course of show jumps and feature cross-country fences, against the clock in the International Arena. On Friday, June 14 competition includes the heart-stopping Equitop GLME Puissance, Arena Polo and the ground-breaking Bolesworth Elite Auction, followed by a Celebrity DJ in Club Boles. Champagne, cocktails, luxury shopping, and high class hospitality, meet fantastic family entertainment, World class sport and a brilliant line up of evening entertainment with extensive facilities to camp onsite if you would like to extend your stay, so why not take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. For 2019, the event will once again host the glamorous and ever popular ‘Ladies Day’ supported by Lord & Lady Equestrian on the Saturday! Throughout the day, ladies in hospitality have the chance to impress a celebrity judge panel to be awarded ‘The Equerry Bolesworth International’s Best Dressed’ with a dazzling awards ceremony in the International Arena. Ladies Day is full of exciting entertainment in Boleworth’s iconic International Arena including CSI 4* Show Jumping, a polo demonstration and the exhilarating Ride & Drive featuring celebrity drivers, top riders and one fast car! Sunday is Equerry Grand Prix day and always provides a fantastic finale to the show with the fences growing ever higher. Visit www.bolesworthinternational.com to book tickets for this year’s show. Hurry - book before 30 April for a 25% discount!

British Breeding is delighted to announce the dates and plans for its 2019 British Breeding Baileys Horse Feeds Futurity evaluations. This highly regarded series for foals and young stock aims to identify talented horses that will go on to compete successfully in the future. With many Futurity graduates already competing at top level in Dressage, Endurance, Eventing and Showjumping the series offers the ideal opportunity for breeders to showcase their potential stars. The 2019 British Breeding Baileys Horse Feeds Futurity sees several developments designed to build on their world-leading evaluation system, delivering an independent and objective detailed assessment of performance potential and opening opportunities for British bred foals and youngsters from all studbooks. In preparation for the relaunch of the Equine Bridge, British Breeding’s young stock development programme organised in cooperation with the Olympic Disciplines and designed to put more British riders on British horses, separate Futurity evaluation days have been dedicated to 3 to 5-year olds. Organiser and director of British Breeding, Dr Eva-Maria Broomer, explains, “The age range has been opened up to allow older horses the opportunity to qualify for the Bridge. Having these on separate days will allow us to use a tailor made and optimised assessment structure for that age group, designed to give the very best feedback and support at that crucial age. Our focus will then turn to the younger foals, yearlings and two-year olds that will be assessed on the other dates”. A new grading system has also been announced, replacing the old third, second and first premiums with Bronze, Silver and Gold. This reflects the Futurity’s recognition of the quality of a wide range of riding horses and ponies, from those suitable for the ambitious amateur to the next generation of international Grand Prix horses. The Futurity season will be rounded off with a special celebration and Futurity Gala, showcasing the very best of British Breeding and offering interested buyers the opportunity to find an excellent range of special youngsters in one place. British Breeding’s Futurity Evaluations have developed several unique benefits to breeders. Each entry undergoes a thorough veterinary assessment of soundness and conformation and receives expert nutritional advice. A detailed evaluation from a panel of renowned international industry experts gives a comprehensive linear profile and detailed feedback for each horse or pony, recorded in a state-of-the-art database for future reference. Professional videography and photography ensure that every entrant has a comprehensive record of their day. Qualification for the newly re-launched Equine Bridge, in cooperation with the Olympic Disciplines offers further opportunities for development and working closer with the sport. The 2019 Futurity dates range from late July to end of August, giving later foals time to mature and allowing breeders a choice to present their young stock at venues across the country. The Futurity is open to foals, yearlings, two, three, four and five-year-olds in the disciplines of Dressage, Endurance, Eventing and Show Jumping. All venues offer a safe, indoor environment that breeders have come to expect at Futurity evaluations. This year, the series will take place across eleven locations: 29th July – Richmond Equestrian Centre, North Yorkshire – 3-5-year olds 30th July – Richmond Equestrian Centre, North Yorkshire – foals – 2-year olds 31st July – Vale View, Melton Mowbray – Foals – 2-year olds 1st August – Writtle College, Essex – Foals – 2-year olds 2nd August – Bilsington Priory, Kent – Foals – 2-year olds 26th August – The Grange, Okehampton – Foals – 2-year olds 27th August – Catherston, Stockbridge – Foals – 2-year olds 28th August – Catherston, Stockbridge – 3-5-year olds 29th August – Addington Manor, Buckingham– Foals – 2-year olds 30th August – Swallowfield, Solihull – Foals – 2-year olds 31st August – Newton Rigg, Penrith – Foals – 2-year olds 1st September – Drumcarrow, St Andrews – Foals – 2-year olds 21st September – Solihull Riding Club – 3-5-year olds 22nd September – Solihull Riding Club – Futurity Gala and Mare & Youngstock Show For more information, visit www.british-breeding.com , or follow on facebook @BritishBreedingFuturity.  

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain at Hagen CDI1*/CDI4* in Germany - this year themed ‘Horses & Dreams meets France’ (24 – 28 April 2019). CDI4* Big Tour Emile Faurie from Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, with Hof Kasselmann’s Café’s Caletta (bay mare, 10yrs, s. Café au Lait ds. Calato) - pictured. Emma Hindle from Sale, Greater Manchester, with her own Romy Del Sol (brown mare, 13yrs, s. Romanov Blue Hors). Susan Pape based in Henmoor, Germany, with her own Harmony’s Don Noblesse (black stallion, 12yrs, s. Dancier ds. Don Davidoff). Laura Tomlinson from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, with her own and Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr (black stallion, 12yrs, s. Rhodium ds. San Remo). CDI1* Small Tour Sarah Williams from Orpington, Kent, with Georgina Howard’s Bohigas W (bay mare, 18yrs, s. Breitling W ds. Fabriano). Event website Start lists and results Live stream

Results of the British riders who competed last week at Sint-Truiden CDI3*/U25/Y/J/P/Ch-A in Belgium (18 – 22 April 2019): CDI3* Grand Prix 1st Morgan Barbançon with Bolero, 71.587% (FRA) 14th Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 66.239% (GBR) CDI3* Grand Prix Special 1st Morgan Barbançon with Bolero, 71.511% (FRA) 9th Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 67.000% (GBR) CDI3* Prix St Georges 1st Joyce Heuitink with Gaudi Vita, 71.647% (NED) 8th Sarah Williams with Bohigas W, 68.559% (GBR) 10th Sarah Higgins with Alfranco, 68.176% (GBR) - pictured last November CDI3* Intermediate I 1st Thibault Vandenberghe with Santiago Song, 71.676% (BEL) 7th Sarah Higgins with Alfranco, 68.059% (GBR) 10th Sarah Williams with Bohigas W, 66.941% (GBR) CDI3* Intermediate I Freestyle 1st Jorinde Verwimp with Kaster Hof Ter Zeedycke D’12, 77.625% (BEL) 8th Sarah Higgins with Alfranco, 70.042% (GBR) 12th Sarah Williams with Bohigas W, 66.667% (GBR) CDIJ Junior Team Test 1st Sara Aagaard Hyrm with Skovborgs Romadinov, 71.717% (DEN) 25th Avery Maude with Double Agent, 64.899% (GBR) CDIJ Junior Individual 1st Sara Aagaard Hyrm with Skovborgs Romadinov, 73.186% (DEN) 28th Avery Maude with Double Agent, 63.284% (GBR) CDIP Pony Team Test 1st Nathalie Thomassen with Lykkehoejs Dream of Dornik, 73.095% (DEN) 18th Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 67.667% (GBR) 33rd Lavinia Johnson with Dublin, 62.048% (GBR) CDIP Pony Individual Test 1st Jana Lang with Nur Fuer Dich, 72.297% (GER) 19th Lavinia Johnson with Dublin, 66.892% (GBR) 21st Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 66.532% (GBR) CDIP Pony Consolation 1st Maud Van Walstijn with Heidehof’s Don Diego, 70.631% (NED) 5th Lavinia Johnson with Dublin, 67.162% (GBR) 10th Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 65.856% (GBR) For full results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Twenty-two combinations share the honours in the Prestige Italia Big Star Championship Qualifier at Wales and West Shows

Entries are NOW OPEN for the British Showjumping National Championships & Stoneleigh Horse Show 2019

PONY OF THE YEAR SHOW 2019

 

LAURA MANTEL CLAIMS 2019 WELSH MASTERS TITLE

As I’ve now completed my first week in role, I thought I’d share with you all some initial thoughts and some information about what the focus will be for me for the coming weeks.

William Whitaker & Ben Maher make their presence felt in Miami

CHI ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW UNVEILS ALL-STAR INTERNATIONAL LINE-UP, FEATURING 15 OF THE WORLD?S TOP 20 SHOWJUMPERS

BRITISH BREEDING ANNOUNCES 2019 FUTURITY PLANS

TICKETS TO GO ON SALE FOR UK?S LARGEST INDOOR SHOW, OLYMPIA, THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW

 

An update to fix the issues around payments on the BE website went in overnight on Tuesday 16 April following two weeks’ of extensive testing on a range of devices.

 

All refunds of entry fees in respect of Dalkeith (1) 2019 have now been processed. Please note that it may take a few days for funds to show in bank accounts.

 

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Sint-Truiden CDI3*/U25/Y/J/P/Ch-A in Belgium (18 – 22 April 2019). CDI3* Big Tour Louise Bell from Banbury, Oxfordshire, with her own and Tonya Wood’s Into the Blue (roan gelding, 13yrs, s. Ublesco ds. Calvaro Z) - pictured. CDI3* Small Tour Sarah Higgins from Knutsford, Cheshire, with Sarah Rao’s Alfranco (brown gelding, 14yrs, s. Negro). Sarah Williams from Orpington, Kent, with Georgina Howard’s Bohigas W (bay mare, 18yrs, s. Breitling W ds. Fabriano). CDIJ Juniors Avery Maude from Canterbury, Kent, with her own Double Agent (chestnut mare, 12yrs, s. Donnersohn). CDIP Ponies Lavinia Johnson from Chester, Cheshire, with her own Dublin (liver chestnut gelding, 19yrs, s. De Vito II ds. Evenaar). Steffi Tomlinson from Chester, Cheshire, with Tracy Tomlinson’s Vivassa (liver chestnut mare, 12yrs, s. Vivaldi) Event website For live results click here Photo © Adam Fanthorpe

 

British Eventing is now recruiting their next Chief Executive; reporting to the Chairman and working closely with the Board of non-executive directors, the role requires a strong leader who will bring excellent interpersonal and communication skills to the organisation.

Are you heading to this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials?

Britain’s Matt Frost achieved strong results last week in the Pferdesportpark Magna Racino arena at Ebreichsdorf CDI4* in Austria (12 – 14 April 2019). Riding the gorgeous Tribiani he earned a mark of 68.19% to claim sixth place in Friday’s highly competitive Grand Prix, a class won by Germany’s Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E (75.82%). The German contender went on to head Saturday night’s Grand Prix Freestyle too, with the British pair producing a stylish kür for 72.05% and fifth amongst hot company. Tribiani’s last competition outing was at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon last September where he wore the Singapore flag with his usual rider and Matt’s pupil Caroline Chew who takes the reins back later this week for Wiener Neustadt CDI4* near Vienna. “The last time Tribiani competed was at WEG with Caroline,” said Matt. “He’s flown a lot recently so it was good for him to have a nice big break. I rode him at Ebreichsdorf to get him back in the ring, to give him his first competition outing after his holiday, and now Caroline will start her campaign to qualify for Tokyo next year.” Talking about the gorgeous ‘Joey’, Matt said; “He’s such a lovely horse and always produces a consistent test. There were a couple of mistakes in the Grand Prix but for his first time competing after a break, I’m very happy with him.” Describing their Star Wars-themed freestyle programme, Matt said; “It was a relatively easy one before, but this one is more high impact. It has double pirouettes, piaffe turns, and it really allows me to show the horse’s strengths. I really enjoy riding to it.” Tribiani was bought as a nine year old from Denmark by Caroline’s parents Tony and Melanie Chew as a Small Tour horse for their daughter. “They won silver at the Southeast Asian Games, he took to Grand Prix in the autumn of that year, and he hasn’t looked back. “Caroline is a full-time lawyer working in London and she rides at the weekends; I’m 6’4’’ and she’s 5’6’’; but he [Joey] copes with us both so well. Caroline is good at receiving instructions and trusting me. It’s a system that works. It’s a good team.” Talking about the S. Landtinus DVH 674 x Landandel gelding, Matt added; “He’s a kind, pleasant horse. He’s very easy-going but you can light him up and get some fantastic expression. He’s very normal too, he hacks, goes in the field and is lovely to have around.” Above: celebrating Grand Prix sixth CDI4* Grand Prix 1st Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl with Zaire-E, 75.826% (GER) 6th Matt Frost with Tribiani, 68.196% (GBR) Full results CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl with Zaire-E, 82.250% (GER) 5th Matt Frost with Tribiani, 72.055% (GBR) Full results Photo © Adam Fanthorpe

British Showjumping?s Team NAF announced for Longines FEI Nations Cup? of France CSIO5*

A-List Line-Up for Magical LGCT Miami Beach

UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF NATIONAL ENTRIES ANNOUNCED FOR ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW 2019

 

 

Results of the British riders who competed last week at Nieuw en Sint Joosland CDI3*/U25/YJP in the Netherlands (10 – 14 April 2019): CDI3* Grand Prix 1st Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson with Eddieni, 72.043% (SWE) 6th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 70.348% (GBR) - pictured last year =12th Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Mango Jacaro, 68.326% (GBR) =12th Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 68.326% (GBR) 15th Willow Kemp with Dragon Heart, 67.739% (GBR) CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Marlies Van Baalen with Ben Johnson, 77.025% (NED) 5th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 73.150% (GBR) 12th Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Mango Jacaro, 68.085% (GBR) CDI3* Grand Prix Special 1st Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson with Eddieni, 73.574% (SWE) 8th Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 66.809% (GBR) 12th Willow Kemp with Dragon Heart, 60.213% (GBR) CDI3* Prix St Georges 1st Lynne Maas with Fantastique, 71.529% (NED) 18th Kerry Mackin with Esquire, 64.412% (GBR) CDI3* Intermediate I 1st Lynne Maas with Fantastique, 73.059% (NED) 18th Kerry Mackin with Esquire, 61.235% (GBR) CDIU25 Intermediate II 1st Jasmien De Koeyer with Esperanza, 73.147% (NED) 3rd Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina, 70.235% (GBR) 17th Joanna Thurman-Baker with Highcliffe Apollo, 64.588% (GBR) CDIU25 Grand Prix 1st Jasmien De Koeyer with Esperanza, 73.821% (NED) 12th Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina, 66.949% (GBR) 14th Joanna Thurman-Baker with Highcliffe Apollo, 66.00% (GBR) CDIU25 Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Jeanine Nieuwenhuis with TC Athene, 74.725% (NED) 8th Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina, 68.375% (GBR) 9th Joanna Thurman-Baker with Highcliffe Apollo, 68.075% (GBR) CDIY Young Rider Team Test 1st Esmee Donkers with Chaina, 71.422% (NED) 21st Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 65.588% (GBR) 31st Isobel Berrington with Bing, 60.147% (GBR) CDIY Young Rider Individual Test 1st Esmee Donkers with Chaina, 70.588% (NED) 26th Isobel Berrington with Bing, 65.735% (GBR) 30th Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 62.794% (GBR) CDIY Young Rider Consolation 1st Thalia Rockx with Verdi De La Fazenda, 70.490% (NED) 8th Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 65.539% (GBR) 12th Isobel Berrington with Bing, 64.559% (GBR) CDIJ Junior Team Test 1st Laura Jarlkvist Rasmussen with Aatoftens Dornier, 71.869% (DEN) 10th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 69.394% (GBR) 21st Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 67.828% (GBR) 35th Charlie Grieve with Fedor Van Het Booienhof, 64.848% (GBR) 36th Megan Assouline with Botero, 63.030% (GBR) CDIJ Junior Individual Test 1st Marten Luiten with Fynona, 72.892% (NED) 17th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 67.206% (GBR) 33rd Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 64.510% (GBR) 37th Charlie Grieve with Fedor Van Het Booienhof, 60.882% (GBR) CDIJ Junior Freestyle 1st Marten Luiten with Fynona, 77.083% (NED) 11th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 70.833% (GBR) CDIJ Junior Consolation 1st Emelie Svanstrom with Toscham SD, 69.902% (SWE) 17th Charlie Grieve with Fedor Van Het Booienhof, 61.422% (GBR) CDIP Pony Team Test section B 1st Floor Van Der Kuijl with Champ of Daily, 71.095% (NED) 16th Hermione Tottman with Brasil, 64.667% (GBR) 20th Lily Laughton with Steendieks Cadillac, 61.381% (GBR) CDIP Pony Individual Test section B 1st Robin Heiden with Colourfull Cannonball, 71.396% (NED) 14th Hermione Tottman with Brasil, 67.207% (GBR) 18th Lily Laughton with Steendieks Cadillac, 64.189% (GBR) CDIP Pony Consolation 1st My Sandgren with Twenty Two, 70.405% (SWE) 11th Hermione Tottman with Brasil, 67.973% (GBR) 19th Lily Laughton with Steendieks Cadillac, 64.550% (GBR) For full results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Nieuw en Sint Joosland CDI3*/U25/YJP in the Netherlands (10 - 14 April 2019). CDI3* Big Tour Sara Gallop from Gloucester, Gloucestershire with her own Bandreo (bay stallion, 13yrs, s. Sandreo). Emma Hindle from Sale, Greater Manchester with her own Romy Del Sol (brown mare, 13yrs, s. Romanov Blue Hors). Willow Kemp from London with her own Dragon Heart (chestnut gelding, 16yrs, s. Dresemann). Vicky Thompson-Winfield from Horsham, West Sussex with Samantha Francis’  Mango Jacaro (bay stallion, 14yrs, s. Rondeño IX). CDI3* Small Tour Kerry Mackin from Horsham, West Sussex with Angela Jones’ Esquire (bay stallion, 10yrs, s. Valeron). U25 Grand Prix Claire Gallimore from Wadhurst, East Sussex with Annette Ballerina (bay mare, 14yrs, s. Scandic ds. Jazz). Joanna Thurman-Baker from Henley-on-Thames with Highcliffe Apollo (bay gelding, 17yrs, s. Der Lenz ds. Laptop). CDIY – Young Riders Isobel Berrington from Welwyn, Hertfordshire with Bing (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Trento B ds. Hucarlos). Charlotte Dicker from Stockbridge, Hampshire with Sabatini (brown mare, 14yrs, s. Stedinger ds. Sherlock Holmes). CDIJ – Juniors Megan Assouline from Colchester, Essex with Jane Manley’s Botero (chestnut gelding, 10yrs, s. Biasini ds. Rosenkavalier). Charlie Grieve from Folkestone, Kent with her own Fedor Van Het Booienhof (black gelding, 12yrs, s. Faustinis ds. Rotspon). Jessica McConkey from Watlington, Oxfordshire with her own Lada Gaga II (dark bay mare, 10yrs, s. Quaterback, ds. Solos Landwind) - pictured. Charlotte McDowall from Newent, Gloucestershire with her own Alivia (black mare, 14yrs, s. Olivi ds. Roemer). CDIP – Ponies Lily Laughton from Chippenham, Wiltshire with Alicia Laughton’s Steendieks Cadillac (chestnut gelding, 9yrs, s. FS Chambertin). Hermione Tottman from St Albans, Hertfordshire with Nicola Tottman’s Brasil (dark bay gelding, 12yrs, s. Sandokkans Leonardo ds. Orchard Davranches). For start lists and results click here .

Georgia Coe from Shropshire is April?s NAF Shining Star

BLUE CHIP WINTER SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

FEI conference highlights "incredible progress" in having more women in "decision-making" roles at the BEF

The British Equestrian Federation is again supporting the Melanoma Fund which has launched its Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code, the only sun protection i...

 

 

Yet again Oliver Townend, the World number one and leading British points winner, has dominated proceedings in the headline classes at Burnham Market. Due to huge entries from many of the top horse and rider combinations in the world, two sections of Four Star competitors ran today (Sunday), and Oliver led both from pillar to post.

This year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championships was a huge success with a host of stunning performances from leading names in the sport. Horse & Country TV will showcase the two gala evenings, which premiere on-demand, on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April to subscribers of H&C web and mobile apps. Without doubt, this year’s championships was one of the best ever with world class riders travelling to Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire to compete. The two Horse & Country TV highlight programmes feature the Friday evening Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold Championship and the Saturday gala class, the Superflex Inter I Freestyle Gold title. These hour-long premieres will have dressage fans glued to the channel as they bring to life what proved to be two fantastic competitions. Without wanting to give too much away the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold Championship proved a huge success for relative outsiders Katie Bailey and Eagle Nouvelle who swept to a narrow victory much to the crowd’s delight. Popular guest commentator Isobel Wessels was thrilled to open the night with a super test! “I think the rider will be pleased! The beautiful music really suited the light footed way the horse works and the music really enhanced the way of going. What a lovely way to start the evening! There were a couple of mistakes but there was a lot to like.” Viewers will see local rider Katie and the 10-year-old Eagle Nouvelle debut an ethereal freestyle by maestro Tom Hunt set to James Newton Howards’ scores from Peter Pan and Maleficent. A huge extended walk shows outstanding suppleness over the back, the flying changes are straight, active and expressive and in trot the horse shows much ability for the future. Isobel was as impressed as the judges’ panel: “I thought that was really super – wonderful fluent test, much harmony and ease. The horse made no mistakes and I really loved this music – it’s been my favourite so far!” Katie enjoys a deserved moment in the spotlight in front of a supportive home crowd and it wasn’t a victory Katie was expecting; “I was hoping for a top three but never expected this. I’m a bit speechless but thrilled to pip the others!” she says. In an action-packed night at the final Gala Performance of this year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championship viewers will witness plenty of drama, inspiring performances and a touch of artistry. Newmarket rider Nikki Barker took the Superflex Inter I Freestyle Gold title. Riding her own and Viv Gleave’s stunning Spielberg sired stallion Durable, Nikki had a mishap with her music when first entering the arena but head judge at C, Claudia Thaller, gave her permission to come back at the end of the class, in the best interests of the sport. In her first effort, as Nikki raised her hand to signal the start of the music, it was evident that something was amiss as it was an old freestyle of hers. In a remarkable feat of horsemanship, Nikki returned to the arena after a one-hour hiatus following the earlier music issue. All eyes were on Durable, an imposing bay stallion who is simply too handsome for words. Riding to their fascinating Kill Bill soundtrack, a compilation by Ros Emery-Kay, the trot work is oh-so elastic and powerful. The half passes devoured the ground. The canter is powerful and expressive through all movements, yet with control and excellent placement of the pirouettes. Extended trot on the diagonal to the centre line concludes their performance to rapturous applause from the knowledgeable crowd. “I’m absolutely thrilled to win this class, especially considering what happened with the music,” says Nikki after the prize-giving ceremony. “The music started and I didn’t even recognise it! I now know it was a very old Advanced Medium. He felt fab and ready to go but then that. I spoke to judge Sandy Phillips at E and asked what would happen and she said that either the head judge would make me go or I could go later. I thought, well, if I have to go, I’ll just well and truly freestyle it!” Tune in to Horse&Country TV – SKY Channel 184 or Virgin Media channel 298, H&C web and mobile apps, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire, Roku.

The following rider has been selected to represent Great Britain this week in the Big Tour divisions at Ebreichsdorf CDI4* in Austria (12 – 14 April 2019). Matt Frost from Newnham, Gloucestershire with Adam Kemp, Tony Chew and Melanie Chew’s Tribiani (chestnut gelding, 15yrs, s. S. Landtinus DVH 64 ds. Landadel). For start list and results click here Photo © Adam Fanthorpe

 

 

 

Following the update to members on the Ask BE sessions coming up this month, further opportunities have been added to the sessions taking place this weekend along with a date confirmed for May. These sessions give members the chance to meet the BE team, ask questions, put forward new ideas and discuss more about the sport.

The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show (11 – 13 June) is once again holding young horse classes for 2019. The classes, for five, six and seven year olds, will act as viewing opportunities for the Senior Selectors to spot potential combinations for selection for the Longines FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo, the Netherlands, 1 – 4 August 2019. In order to be considered to compete at Bolesworth in the young horse classes, combinations should be scoring 80% and above in five and six year old FEI Preliminary/Finale tests, or 70% and above in seven year old FEI Preliminary/Finale tests / PSG or Advanced 105 from 1 January 2019 until 27 May 2019. Bolesworth entries close on Friday 31 May 2019. Qualification opportunities are available as part of the five and six year old Hickstead British Young International Dressage Horse qualifiers held this year at: Keysoe, Bedfordshire, 26 – 28 April Addington, Buckinghamshire, 10 – 12 May Kingswood, Staffordshire, 17 May Somerford, Cheshire, 25 – 28 May Please note that Somerford will also be holding a seven year old Young Horse class. If you have a horse that has attained the standard at one of these qualifiers and would like to be considered for a place at Bolesworth, please complete this form and send to Lianne Martin at the BD Office. You will need to state the venue(s), date(s) and the qualifying score(s) achieved. Lianne Martin – 02476 698835 or email .

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Nieuw en Sint Joosland CDI3*/U25/YJP in the Netherlands (10 - 14 April 2019). CDI3* Big Tour Sara Gallop from Gloucester, Gloucestershire with her own Bandreo (bay stallion, 13yrs, s. Sandreo). Emma Hindle from Sale, Greater Manchester with her own Romy Del Sol (brown mare, 13yrs, s. Romanov Blue Hors). Willow Kemp from London with her own Dragon Heart (chestnut gelding, 16yrs, s. Dresemann). Vicky Thompson-Winfield from Horsham, West Sussex with Samantha Francis’  Mango Jacaro (bay stallion, 14yrs, s. Rondeño IX). CDI3* Small Tour Kerry Mackin from Horsham, West Sussex with Angela Jones’ Esquire (bay stallion, 10yrs, s. Valeron). U25 Grand Prix Claire Gallimore from Wadhurst, East Sussex with Annette Ballerina (bay mare, 14yrs, s. Scandic ds. Jazz). Joanna Thurman-Baker from Henley-on-Thames with Highcliffe Apollo (bay gelding, 17yrs, s. Der Lenz ds. Laptop). CDIY – Young Riders Isobel Berrington from Welwyn, Hertfordshire with Bing (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Trento B ds. Hucarlos). Charlotte Dicker from Stockbridge, Hampshire with Sabatini (brown mare, 14yrs, s. Stedinger ds. Sherlock Holmes). CDIJ – Juniors Megan Assouline from Colchester, Essex with Jane Manley’s Botero (chestnut gelding, 10yrs, s. Biasini ds. Rosenkavalier). Charlie Grieve from Folkestone, Kent with her own Fedor Van Het Booienhof (black gelding, 12yrs, s. Faustinis ds. Rotspon). Jessica McConkey from Watlington, Oxfordshire with her own Lada Gaga II (dark bay mare, 10yrs, s. Quaterback, ds. Solos Landwind) - pictured. Charlotte McDowall from Newent, Gloucestershire with her own Alivia (black mare, 14yrs, s. Olivi ds. Roemer). CDIP – Ponies Lily Laughton from Chippenham, Wiltshire with Alicia Laughton’s Steendieks Cadillac (chestnut gelding, 9yrs, s. FS Chambertin). Hermione Tottman from St Albans, Hertfordshire with Nicola Tottman’s Brasil (dark bay gelding, 12yrs, s. Sandokkans Leonardo ds. Orchard Davranches). For start lists and results click here .

Key Currency join the British Showjumping Business Partnership

Ticket sales for the Longines FEI European Championships Rotterdam 2019 start today

Equerry Add Support to New Bolesworth Young Horse Championships

 

Sophie Wells and Nicky Greenhill’s 2019 campaigns have continued with five victories between them at Deauville CPEDI3* in France last week (4 – 7 April 2019). With Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction (Fidertanz x Olivi), Sophie (28) won Friday’s Team Test with 74.65% as well as taking a podium position with relatively new ride, the 10 year old mare, Diadeem (by Westenwind) who scored 69.86% for third. Separating Sophie’s rides was the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP (70.76%). Individual Test day saw another victory for Wells. C Fatal Attraction (picture last year) who is known as ‘Jorge’ is coming into his prime at the age of 12. His increasing power and suppleness is reflected in his growing scores. 76.04% was the reward for his winning test, with Diadeem earning a very pleasing 68.85% for fourth. Sophie maintained her supremacy in Sunday’s Freestyle to add another win to her Grade V dominance, this time with a score of 78.39%. “I love him so much but he was a little devil today!” said Sophie on Facebook . “I had to change the floor plan three times through the test to try and claw back some marks after he had other ideas! Some of the work he’s doing feels the best he’s ever produced, so we are definitely heading in the right direction.....but maybe a bit of able bodied practise needed now! Sophie was also in Deauville with her trainer’s hat on; “Well done to Georgia Wilson this week too, Chico was a little cheeky today in the Freestyle, but for their second international abroad, loads of learning and experience gained.” Nicky Greenhill enjoyed great success in the Grade IV divisions. She was second to the home nation’s Camille Jaguelin and Wimke in the Team test, but by the narrowest of margins with the exciting prospect Betty Boo (pictured last year), a black Benetton Dream x Londonderry mare she co-owns with husband Gary. Nicky, who is visually impaired, also was fifth with the 11 year old son of Calido, King Edward I, who is owned by Gary. Following this excellent start, Nicky, 41, went one better to dominate the Individual with first and second place. “Wow wow wow! What a day of mixed emotions... Both the horses were on flying form! “Eddie really let me ride him today and felt so much more confident, although he seemed to have a gravitational force pulling him towards his dad standing at X! Betty did one of the best tests she has ever done, but I had a massive disorientation moment in the halt rein back which left me feeling utterly confused... it’s just the worst feeling ever when you end up somewhere you are not expecting and have no idea how it happened. It took all my strength to carry on, but I’m pleased I did as she finished a very close second to her brother! “It’s always been my dream to come first and second at an international, but now I have done it, it makes me feel so unbelievably sad that I can’t share the news with my mum,” said Nicky, referring to the recent passing of her mum. “She would have been the first person I would have rung and she would have been so excited. I know she is watching over me and when I look back in a few months when I’m not so emotional I will hopefully feel super proud of what I have just achieved.” On Sunday, Nicky once again stood atop the podium, winning the Grade IV Freestyle with Betty Boo, scoring 72.87%. “What a week! I cannot believe we are taking home two international champions,” she said. “I love these ponies.” Results of the British riders: Grade II Team Test 1st Nicole Den Dulk with Wallace N.O.P., 70.90% (NED) 2nd Lee Pearson with B Grandeur, 70.12% (GBR) 3rd Georgia Wilson with Chico III, 68.16% (GBR) 4th Natasha Adkinson with Sweet Caledonia, 67.81% (GBR) 6th Susanna Hext with LJT Enggaards Solitaire, 67.48% (GBR) Individual Test 1st Nicole Den Dulk with Wallace N.O.P., 71.23% (NED) 2nd Natasha Adkinson with Sweet Caledonia, 69.23% (GBR) 3rd Lee Pearson with B Grandeur, 69.17% (GBR) 4th Susanna Hext with LJT Enggaards Solitaire, 68.94% (GBR) 6th Georgia Wilson with Chico III, 68.20% (GBR) Freestyle 1st Nicole Den Dulk with Wallace N.O.P., 71.80% (NED) 2nd Susanna Hext with LJT Enggaards Solitaire, 71.60% (GBR) 3rd Lee Pearson with B Grandeur, 71.39% (GBR) 4th Natasha Adkinson with Sweet Caledonia, 69.66% (GBR) 5th Georgia Wilson with Chico III, 69.58% (GBR) Grade IV Team Test 1st Camille Jaguelin with Wimke, 67.85% (FRA) 2nd Nicky Greenhill with Betty Boo, 67.82% (GBR) 3rd Nicola Naylor with Ferrari SDB, 66.75% (GBR) 4th Nicola Naylor with Donnatella H, 66.57% (GBR) 5th Nicky Greenhill with King Edward I, 66.20% (GBR) 8th Heather Bennett with Guinevere Aimbry, 63.40% (GBR) Individual Test 1st Nicky Greenhill with King Edward I, 68.41% (GBR) 2nd Nicky Greenhill with Betty Boo, 68.24% (GBR) 4th Nicola Naylor with Ferrari SDB, 66.12% (GBR) 5th Heather Bennett with Guinevere Aimbry, 65.68% (GBR) 7th Nicola Naylor with Donnatella H, 63.58% (GBR) Freestyle 1st Nicky Greenhill with Betty Boo, 72.87% (GBR) 5th Nicola Naylor with Ferrari SDB, 67.75% (GBR) 6th Heather Bennett with Guinevere Aimbry, 63.35% (GBR) Grade V Team Test 1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 74.65% (GBR) 3rd Sophie Wells with Diadeem, 69.86% (GBR) Individual Test 1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 76.04% (GBR) 4th Sophie Wells with Diadeem, 68.85% (GBR) Freestyle 1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 78.39% (GBR) Nations Cup 1st Great Britain, 423.497 2nd The Netherlands, 416.642 3rd Russia, 402.040 4th France, 400.784 5th Ireland, 388.630 6th Spain, 367.794 For full results click here

 

Virbac 3D Worming are delighted to continue their support of British Eventing as Official Training Partner of the BE80(T) and Technical Merit.

 

As happens at British championship events with great regularity, once again the most prolific sire at the British Dressage Winter Championships was Dimaggio. He had 14 different offspring competing in 19 National Finals. We have touched on the success of Dimaggio many times in the past, who after taking the young horse World Championship title […]

With 921 tests started, 39 titles awarded, 5586 score sheets checked and 140 hours of dressage across three arenas, the curtain closes on the NAF Five Star Winter Championships and Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships for another year, and we’re missing the action at Hartpury already. We’d like to take the opportunity to thank Kelvin Bywater and his team at Show Direct, as well as the dedicated group of judges, writers, stewards, officials and volunteers who work tirelessly around the clock to keep the show running. A special thank you goes to generous title sponsors NAF and Petplan Equine, as well as class sponsors KBIS, Blue Chip, Baileys Horse Feeds, Equi-Trek, Suregrow, TheraPlate UK, Spillers, Charles Owen and Nupafeed. Our final thank you goes to you – the riders, spectators, supporters, grooms and owners who’ve made the show so memorable for all involved – congratulations to all who took part, no matter the results you’re all winners in our eyes! There’s still time to get involved with the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, work your way through the links below to relive all the highlights from a week of top class dressage. Read Show report day one click here . Show report day two click here . Show report day three click here . Show report day four click here . Show report day five click here . Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold report click here . Superflex Intermediate I Freestyle Gold report click here . Reports feature photos by Kevin Sparrow and words by Winnie Murphy, Joanna Bowns and Camille Peters. Listen Rider interviews hosted by Cre8 Media click here . Watch NEW for 2019 at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships - tests from the indoor arena can be purchased for just £20. Click here to find your video and simply create an account, search for your test and purchase! Catch up with the two Gala Performance Freestyle classes, click here to watch. Videographer Harveywetdog was also on site to capture all of the highlights, click here to visit his Youtube channel to check out some of the best tests of the Championships. Social Media Visit the BD Social Media channels on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram too see a host of videos and photos from the week. Have your say! The team at BD would love to hear/see your stories and photos from the Championships; message the British Dressage Facebook page or Area Festivals Facebook page, use #NAFWDC19, #PetplanFestivals or tag BD in your posts to get involved. Results Click each day for full results and judges' breakdown. Day one - Featuring Blue Chip Novice Silver, Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold, Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold, Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver, Equi-Trek Elementary Silver, Petplan Equine Medium Bronze Area Festival, Petplan Equine Medium Silver Area Festival, Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze Area Festival and Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver Area Festival. Day two - Featuring Equi-Trek Elementary Gold, Magic Prix St Georges Gold, Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver, Charles Owen Advnaced Medium Silver, Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze Area Festival, Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver Area Festival, Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze Area Festival and Petplan Equine Elementary Silver Area Festival. Day three - Featuring Blue Chip Novice Gold, Nupafeeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver, Superflex Intermediate I Gold, TheraPlate UK Medium Silver, Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold, Petplan Equine Advanced medium Silver Area Festival, Petplan Equine Novice Bronze Area Festival and Petplan Equine Novice Silver Area Festival. Day four – Featuring KBIS Preliminary Silver, Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver, Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold, Superflex Intermediate I Freestyle Gold, Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver Area Festival, Petplan Equine Intermediate II Silver Area Festival, Petplan Equine Preliminary Under 21 Area Festival and Petplan Equine Elementary Under 21 Area Festival. Day five – Featuring Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold, Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold, TheraPlate UK Medium Gold, Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze Area Festival, Petplan Equine Medium Under 21 Area Festival, Petplan Equine Novice Under 21 Area Festival and Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze Area Festival. Sponsors Click here to visit the British Dressage sponsor page where you can find website links and details of all BD sponsors including the prestigious brands behind the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships.    

Tom Francis-Jones wins the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Championship

British Showjumping announce new Non-Executive Board positions

British Showjumping Winter Pony Championships

British Eventing is delighted to welcome NAF as the title sponsor for the British Eventing Junior Programme, Junior National Championships and European Championship Junior squad.

 

 

Keysoe Press Release:

 

 

 

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of  Sally Munden .

With ten horses entered this week who were born at Headmore Stud, it was likely they’d feature well in the placings but in this morning's SureGrow UK Elementary Freestyle Gold, it was a case of domination. First of the Headmore trio was the six year old Florencio-sired Headmore Figaro, owned by Sarah Oppenheimer with Dannie Morgan in the saddle. Due to a withdrawal, they were also the first of ht class and what a start to make! A captivating floorplan with as much technicality as the level allows to music which was so apt for the cheerful chestnut. A massive score of 78.78% was announced…gauntlet firmly laid down. Next was the Belissimo M mare Headmore Bella Ruby with Alice Oppenheimer. This duo were still flying high from their Equi-Trek Elementary Gold and they looked pretty spot on. Again excellent music with a flat plan packed with difficulty greeted the judges who duly obliged with a score of 77.37% to put Alice second. The combinations gave their all including Dannie with his second ride, Nicola Callam’s High Hoes Florizel, but they couldn’t come close. Then the penultimate to go was Alice with her second ride, Headmore Dionysus, a half brother to Bella Ruby in sharing the same dam, Headmore’s legendary Rubinsteena but this time with Dimaggio as the sire. ‘Dillon’ was bridesmaid on Thursday in the straight class but being a year older, today he showed that extra strength and was a picture in the arena. Again, perfectly selected music by Sara Green accompanied well thought out movements. They halted and saluted knowing it was going to be a good score. The commentator started…78…point…20%. Dannie and ‘Jack’ were champions. “I’m really pleased with him,” exclaimed Dannie. “I broke him in as a three year old and produced him along the way. He was fourth here last year and then second at the Nationals at Novice so it’s great to come here and get the win. “He’s got a great walk and he’s very secure in the medium canter plus he can do the simple changes so I’ve really worked on a technical floor plan. I didn’t mind going first, I just went in and gave the judges something to sit up and watch!” he continued. Alice was emotional afterwards. “It’s been an incredible week for Headmore. Six wins so far and three seconds, just amazing. Dannie and I have had some banter; ‘my walk is better, but no my music is’ – it’s been fun and in the end, it didn’t matter who won. Bella Ruby felt a bit tired today, she’s not a physically developed as Dillan but for all three to get those scores and be so far ahead of the other is great, they’re so clever! That was definitely the coolest prize giving I’ve ever done! “I have to thank Sara Green for her amazing skill in putting my music together. The detail she puts into every one and captures the horse’s personality is amazing. She’ll certainly be part of our celebrations. “It’s been a big build up for all the horses and I can’t fault any of them this week. It’s been very emotional and I’ve had the full range of ups and downs!” said Alice. Petplan Equine Prelim Bronze Joseph Davey and Joan Price’s Humbug II achieved an emphatic win in Sunday morning’s Petplan Equine Prelim Bronze after scoring a brilliant 72.08%. “It’s the journey,” an emotional Joseph said about his first championship win in only his second year with British Dressage, “I’m buzzing!” “I felt like I was water-skiing in my test but apparently it looked better than it felt! He was a very good boy, very obedient and just a little bit tense at times because of the whole occasion. I’ve been riding him for Joan Price for three years and he only learned to canter at 18! It’s not his strongest point but he’s really come on. For what he possibly lacks in ability, he’s got the biggest heart.” Joseph has benefitted from the expertise of Nikki McPherson, Denise O’Reilly and Karen Rouse: “Denise is an advocate of the ride with your mind approach and this has really helped me – I’ve always felt like I’ve needed more ability in my riding to help him, she was really marvellous. Karen has helped us recently, he’s a little stronger and more ready for it now and she really gets him.” “Really he’s everything you don’t want in a dressage horse,” he added laughing, “he’s got a good trot and he’s getting more and more confident with it all. He loves jumping too so we’ve used this to improve his canter!” Having taken the part bred trotting horse from not being able to canter a circle to Area Festival success, away from working in Finance for his local authority in schools Joseph rides Humbug three times a week and shares the ride with proud owner Jo. “She’s very kindly stayed off him,” laughed Joseph, “now we’ve done this she’s going to start to a little more on him and she can’t wait to canter him because she never has!” Joseph will now aim the piebald gelding at the 2019/2020 Area Festival series at Novice level and is also hoping to have a shot at the Summer Regionals at Prelim. Proud friend Viv Rhodes was quick to praise the rider from Kingsbury, “Jo’s just so good with the horses, he’s very calm and gets inside their heads. Him and Humbug have just bonded so well.” Second place went to Catrin John with Llancayo Danny Boy, and Trailtrow Texa Beag took third with Kirstin McMurray in the saddle. Petplan Equine Medium U21 Area Festival Championship Exeter rider Danielle Balsdon used her new found skills learned as a British Dressage National Academy rider to squeeze every mark possible from her self-produced Lord Lennox and claim the Petplan Equine Area Festival Medium u21 title. By the prolific German sire L’Espoir, the exceptionally handsome ‘Lenny’ was bought by Danielle as a green five year old and has produced him up the levels under guidance from trainers Adam Kemp and Karen List. “I’m totally overwhelmed and wasn’t expecting this. He did some of his best ever trot work today but as usual made me ride every step of canter. Today’s the first time he held it all together through the whole test; he’s hard to get a consistent test from,” summed up Danielle, who works as a bookkeeper. “I’d like to get to do under 25 Grand Prix with him but we’ll just move up the levels at his pace. Next will be Advanced Medium at ‘Petplans’. I’ve learned so much from the National Academy training and there’s no doubt it helped me get a few more marks today,” she explained. Petplan Equine Novice U21 Area Festival Championship This week, the deciding rounds of the Petplan Equine series have provided a real showcase of up-and-coming U21 talent. Once such rider is Carla Milne who took the spoils in today’s Petplan Equine Novice Area Festival U21 Area Festival Championship. Carla rode her talented black gelding Hey Good Looking GK (Chello III VDL x Elcaro) to a clear victory in the competitive class, scoring 71.87% from judges Sue Carson, Andrea Hessay and Sue Petty. “I’m so happy! This win was quite unexpected…it’s so exciting,” said a delighted Carla after the prize-giving. “He’s such a sharp horse and he can be difficult so I’m really happy with just how relaxed he was in the test.” Carla and ‘Cookie’, as he’s known, are no strangers to Hartpury having won the 2018 KBIS Preliminary Silver title, and this week has been a busy one for the pair. Arriving Monday, they’ve competed in both the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver and the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver achieving 11th and 15th place respectively. Bought as a just backed four-year-old from Dutch Sports Horses, Cookie is described as ‘cheeky and he loves people’. Now seven, Carla has produced him with support from trainer Jane Rutherford. It was double celebrations for Carla this week as she also celebrated her 16th birthday. Happy birthday Carla! She now sets off on the seven-hour trip back home to Dumfries and Galloway. Nupafeed Advanced Medium Gold Freestyle On day five of the NAF Five Star Winter Championships the gentleman of dressage, Dannie Morgan, has once again shown what an exciting talent he is. The 27-year-old from Hampshire has enjoyed a resounding victory in this afternoon’s Nupafeed Advanced Medium Gold Freestyle Championship taking his 2019 NAF Five Star Winter Championship total to a thrilling three. With Lisa Morgan and David Knoxx’s stunning liver chestnut, Knoxx’s Figaro (Jazz x Krack C), he was awarded a super score of 76.05% from judges Penelope Lang at E, Austria’s Claudia Thaller at C and Nick Burton at M. This put a plus three percent margin between him and second-placed Jayne Turney with Charlotte Dujardin’s talented pony, Cruz III (72.83%). “I’m a bit speechless really, it’s not often you have a day or a week like this,” said Dannie following the prize-giving in front of an appreciative Hartpury crowd. “After winning the Advanced Medium [Gold] yesterday, I just relaxed today and went in to enjoy it. I’m so happy.” Dannie and Fig’s performance was all about supreme balance, suppleness and power, to a soundtrack of music from the film War of the Worlds, compiled by Clare Deithrick. “The trot’s really grown in strength as he’s become more confident in the ring, and now that he’s more supple, he can show the gears more,” says Dannie. Earlier today Dannie won the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold with another Figaro, Headmore Figaro, with Alive Oppenheimer taking second and third on Headmore-bred horses. Talking about his collaboration with the stud, Dannie smiled, “Me and Alice have a bit of friendly rivalry! We have a bit of banter between us. It’s great that we’ve both done well and it’s good to have that support and team around us.” Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze Concluding a week of top class action in the Petplan Equine Arenas, Denise Fryer rode the test of her life to score 70.72% and claim the final title of the week, the Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze Area Festival. With her own Keystone Starstruck, Denise was the sole rider to top the 70% barrier finishing nearly three percent clear of the field. With her win today, Denise completes the Area Festival hat-trick having won her Area Festival at Crofton Manor and her Area Festival Final at Bicton Arena. Speaking about her Area Festival Championship win she said, “I’m over the moon with her, she’s tried her heart out for me!” “The changes were great today and she was just so with me, she did everything I asked, when I asked, she didn’t care about the atmosphere! She just went in there and was like ‘I’ve got this!’ I’m really happy.” The eight year old British-bred mare by Serano was bought by Intensive Care Nurse Denise out of the field at three years old. With persistent training and help from Kate Smith, the gamble more than paid off for the busy Stockbridge lady who carefully balances her work with dressage. “I do this to relax really! She hacks or has a day off when I’m working and I school her when I’m off, it works quite well!” “She’s just a joy to own,” an elated Denise continued, “She loves cuddles, scratches and attention – she’s the cuddliest horse going and is just super chilled out.” Next up for the talented duo is hopefully a debut at Prix St Georges level, we’re sure they’ll be in the arena in top hat and tails very soon. Theraplate UK Medium Gold The Medium Gold class at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships is always worth staying to watch and this year, it’s first supported by leading equine rehabilitation and sports conditioning experts Theraplate UK, the standard didn’t disappoint. The test to impress the judges panel of Peter Storr (C), Andrea Smith (M) and Sara Jane Lanning (E) was that of Katie Bailey and Hillgrounds Wolkenhall who earned a whopping 75.31% to steal the win from long-time leader Becky Moody and Heavenly Kiss BS. Becky and ‘Hector’ held on for second with an equally as impressive 72.25% whilst U25s rider Becky Edwards and Laerke Stensvang completed the top three with 71.66%. “It feels extra special when it’s your own!” Local lady Katie bought ‘Harry’ as a foal from breeder Claire Skinner, “He’s the first one I’ve done this with but wouldn’t do it again as it’s been quite expensive! He’s been quite straightforward and is mentally quite sharp but he’s really talented.” The well-suited combination placed here last year and have progressed through the levels over the winter season. About her winning test today on board the eight year old son of Wolkenderry Katie added, “he felt a bit more tense than he did in here last year, just a bit more ‘looky’. He actually knocked himself last week so I haven’t been able to give him as much preparations as I’d have liked.” “He gave me a really good feel today and I know he has all the talent to go up the levels,” dual Winter Championship title winner Katie concluded. For full results click here .

Team NAF win Junior Nations Cup in Opglabbeek, Belgium this afternoon

Team LeMieux 2nd in opening Pony Nations Cup of 2019 at Opglabbeek

In an action packed night at the final Gala Performance of this year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championship which witnessed plenty of drama, inspiring performances and a touch of artistry, Newmarket rider Nikki Barker took the Superflex Inter I Freestyle Gold title. Riding her own and Viv Gleave’s stunning Spielberg sired stallion Durable, Nikki put a mishap with her music when ready to start behind her to then pull off a stunning 74.04% test to overtake pathfinders Hanna Biggs and Don Archie. Last night’s Magic PSG champions, Katie Bailey and Eagle Nouvelle finished third. Nikki said afterward; “The music started and I didn’t even recognise it! I now know it was a very old Advanced Medium. He felt fab and ready to go but then that. I spoke to judge Sandy Phillips at E as asked what would happen and she said that either the head judge would make me go or I could go later. I thought, well, if I have to go, I’ll just well and truly freestyle it!” She didn’t quite have to do that as the senior judge at C, Austria’s Claudia Thaller, gave permission for her to go later in the class in the best interests of the sport. So Nikki gave him a cool down and returned to go last and put in a polished performance full of artistry and power to take the title. We’ll be bringing you a full class report tomorrow. For full results – click here

With Hackneys, Friesians, and many Native ponies enjoying wins and placings this week, the NAF Five Star Winter Championships have been a great celebration of the huge variation of breeds making waves in the dressage world. Gill Peckham and the part-bred Hackney stallion Hero (Huroos) continued the theme as they became triumphant winners of the 10th anniversary KBIS Preliminary Silver title. A high standard class was tough fought but after the Maidenhead based duo took an early lead from second in at 7.57 in the morning, a hot field couldn’t quite top their winning score of 71.83%. “I’ve only ever done one Regional Championship before, I’m just an amateur rider and it’s completely amazing!” Gill commented following her debut prize giving, “I just had no idea how he would react, I think I was lucky to have early draw before it got too busy in there but he just behaved so well. I tried really hard to be accurate today…I’ve got a habit of not being accurate! But Hero focused straight away and got on with the job, he did everything I asked.” Gill came across her star ride following a recommendation from long term trainer and friend Katharine Lewis, our winner of Wednesday’s Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold on board the Friesian stallion Jos K. “I couldn’t find an established dressage horse for reasonable money so Katharine said come on Gill we’ll get you a driving horse!” Gill fell in love with the newly backed Hero the first time she saw a video, “Katherine told me not to get excited from just a video but we went and sat on him and both fell in love with him!” In their short time together, Gill won an unaffiliated championship before going on to register with BD, qualify for the Winter Regionals and win her first title attempt at Merrist Wood. Speaking about her Championship hopes she added, “I had hoped to get into the top ten but it really was a hope and not an expectation. He’s a live wire and I didn’t know what he was going to do – really I just didn’t want to make a fool of myself! But he behaved and he’s just so consistent, he’s always around these scores but you always expect to score less at national level. It was a very long wait after getting my score!” Commenting on a successful ten years of sponsorship, KBIS owner Liz Prest said, “We’ve had a very good ten years with British Dressage and it’s been lovely watching it develop. There was a very wide variety of tests today, and Gill was a very worthy winner. It’s such a great story, a horse that’s gone from driving to winning at the Winter Championships in just a year – a super way to celebrate.” Petplan Equine Inter II Silver Izzy Chaplin and Coral Ingham’s Vincente II have already enjoyed a placing this week in the Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze Area Festival Championship and today went one better with a win in the Intermediate II Silver Championship. The panel of Peter Storr, Debbie Jones and Claudia Thaller rewarded 64.43% for their efforts in the highest grade test of the Area Festival Championships. The partnership have enjoyed great results in their three years together and appeared at the Championships last year as part of the Hickstead Young Rider Quadrille display team. Speaking about her test on board the Gribaldi sired stallion, Izzy said “I’m over the moon! I wasn’t expecting to win today at all, I was just hoping for a clear round. I really can’t believe it.” “We’ve always struggled with the changes but we got them today, and his piaffe felt amazing,” Izzy continued, “We’ve had a pretty chilled preparation and we’ve been working with my trainer Sarah Millis on our weak points in the test.” Izzy and Vincente only rode their first Inter II eight month ago – on her birthday of all days – and made their debut at Grand Prix just before Christmas. The full-time accountant is hoping to contest the Under 25s Grand Prix classes throughout the rest of the year. “He’s just a big Labrador,” she smiled about her winning ride, “We’ve risen up the ranks together and he’s really a very sweet horse.” It was a pleasant surprise for the family to taste success at Hartpury, as at one stage, it was looking unlikely that they’d be able to make it. David Millis, husband of trainer Sarah, came to the rescue of Izzy and her mother Karen to transport Vincente to Hartpury, as the family are currently waiting patiently for one of their broodmares to foal, at two and a half weeks late it’s touch and go with a non-horsey dad left at home to hold the fort!   Petplan Equine Elementary U21 Area Festival Bicester-based Gracie Catling (15), one of the busiest riders at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships with an incredible seven tests to ride over the five days, has celebrated victory this afternoon in the Petplan Equine Elementary U21 Area Festival Championship. Riding Helen Christie’s Silvano KR (by Wolfgang), an attractive KWPN gelding who belies his 20 years, she claimed the Petplan Equine Elementary U21 Area Festival Championships with a score of 69.70%. “I’m really surprised and extremely happy that he did so well,” said Gracie after the prize-giving. “Especially considering he’s not as elastic as the other horses and quite small too. Where he gains though is that his transitions are very good, and he’s just so harmonious.” Silvano, who is known as ‘Saman’ was gifted to owner Helen Christie three ago, and Gracie has ridden him for one year so far. “He had done a lot but not particularly successfully, and he’d suffered with allergies and hives too. I competed him for a couple of years,” said owner Helen, “we did quite well but he always had a tendency to shut down in the arena. So I decided to hand him to a younger rider who has the talent to motivate him.” Gracie, who trains with her mum Julia, a List 4 judge, is a tactful young rider who Saman enjoys working for. “He can be quite crafty, and he can shut down. I just have to make sure I don’t let him get away with anything, and keep him on the aids. Expressing just what this victory means to her, Gracie said; “I’ve been here for four years, and have been watching the prize-givings all this time. I’m so glad it’s me this time!” she beamed. Second place went to Rebecca Parsonage with Wacton Billy (68.23%) and Jersey Garrett and Crowhide the Talisman (68.18%) completed the top three.   Petplan Equine Area Festival U21 Preliminary West Midlands young talent Sophia Marston may have taken a cursory glance to the sky on the completion of her Prelim test in the Petplan Equine Area Festival U21 Championship this morning to say thank you to her great grandmother. It was the sum of £4000 left to her mum Claire that bought a San Amour x Hotline yearling into their lives six years ago and today the now grown Solitaire II and Sophia are champions. It’s been a buy day for the 13 year old as she also contested the KBIS Prelim Silver Championship where she and ‘Solly’ finished as runners up but went one better in the Petplan Equine class. “I was really pleased with how she coped with the big atmosphere, it’s our first really big show together and I’m just so happy with her!” said Sophia. Originally intended to be the ride for Claire, Sophia’s long legs made her the ideal jockey and they’ve been growing together as a partnership. Only last month they were reserve champions in the Ideal Saddles Prelim 70cm Combined Training Championship. Sophia trains with Michael Eilberg and she and Solly are working at Elementary with a view to being selected to represent Great Britain in FEI Children on Horses classes. Spillers Horse Feeds Medium Freestyle Silver A busy week of competition which has yielded two top five placings was topped off in style when Berkshire rider Rebecca Marsden partnered her own 11 year old Fidermark sired Fiorello to victory in the hotly contested Spillers Horse Feeds Medium Freestyle Silver. Rebecca combines competing as a hobby with her role as a full time lawyer for American IT giant Hewlett Packard and swapped disciplines from eventing to dressage about two years ago. “I train with Matt Hicks and he helped with my eventers but when I took up dressage I bought Fiorello from him and that was nearly a year ago to the day,” explained Rebecca. Working full time, she has a great family support network; “I’m very lucky to be based with her mum and dad just outside Newbury who are so supportive of me, along with husband Charlie.” She was also quick to extoll the virtues of her dancing partner; “He has an amazing hind leg, is well balanced and very polite! I’d also say he’s clever and with a bit of sass. And I must say, he’s very affectionate and gives great hugs! This is her debut at the Winters and she’s currently training towards competing in Prix St Georges by the end of the year. She’s also purchased schoolmaster El Zorro from Matt to help her gain experience with the more advanced movements. In 2012, the horse won this Spillers Horse Feeds title here so now there are two Medium Freestyle Champions in Rebecca’s stables tonight. Petplan Equine Prelim Silver Area Festival Championship West Country rider Katy Sawyer clinched the win in the epic Petplan Equine Prelim Silver Championship, a class that’s lasted almost the whole day with 42 starters. Riding her own gorgeous grey Greatest Time, who’s Dutch bred by Quality Time, Katy posted 74.44%. Katy clearly wasn’t expecting the win; “I’m amazed and so pleased with him. Didn’t ever imagine we’d get here, let alone win. It’s amazing and such an honour!” she enthused. Katy, who works part time as a baker and does some freelance grooming and riding, bought ‘Simba’ as an unbroken five year old and they just got going but sadly he went lame. The result was a stifle operation but he’s recovered well and the duo even managed to get some eventing in last season in BE 90 and 100. Somerset based Katy has been working hard on his trot work and to get more expression into his paces with trainer Virginia Peters which is clearly paying off. They also did their first Novice last week successfully. Affectionate Simba is clearly treasured at home; “He’s the yard favourite – so friendly and anyone can do anything to him; he’s just a lovely horse,” smiled Katy. Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold As Tiger Roll took an emphatic second victory in the Randox Health Grand National, Dannie Morgan and the impressive Knoxx’s Figaro (Jazz x Krack C) notched up another national title of their own in the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold. The talented gelding, owned by Lisa Morgan and David Knoxx, scored an immense 73.46% to win by no less than three percent. Proud rider Dannie Morgan was elated after his prize giving, “this is the biggest win of my career so far!” For Dannie the win was another emotional marker of immense progress with a horse who’s been on quite a journey. “He’s an amazingly talented horse; last year was our first year together and he’s grown so much in confidence and strength. I was really pleased to be able to show that progress today!” Dannie thanked trainer Nicky Barrett for her help in producing his champion ride, “Nicky has helped develop him enormously, she knows him really well as she’s trained him from a young horse.” The duo have worked wonders over their year together with the naturally nervous ‘Fig’ who Dannie admits that “it would do him good to man-up a bit”. It’s been a tough road to the Winters for a key part of team Fig as owner Lisa unfortunately broke her back in multiple places in December. Dannie said, “coming here has been a huge motivation for Lisa, she’s been through a lot of rehab. It’s great for her to be able to be here, it’s going to be a long road.” Second place in the hot class went to Judy Harvey with the lovely Palimera (Polytraum x Rockwell), whilst Damian Hallam and Romir Elton took third. For full results click here . 

With the nation in a betting mood ahead of tomorrow’s Randox Health Grand National, the bookies would have had short odds on riders like Hannah Biggs, Becky Moody and Alice Oppenheimer for tonight’s Gala Performance feature class, the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold Championship. However, it was the relative outsiders Katie Bailey and Eagle Nouvelle who swept to a narrow victory much to the crowd’s delight. Henrietta Cheetham and her own Dancer Khan kicked the night off in style with a test full of highlights. Starting in canter to Toto’s Africa the duo rode flowing tempi changes on curved lines followed by small pirouettes presented on the centre line. The extended walk showed a solid two hooves overtrack and nice relaxation with the elegant bay seeking the contact forwards. The energetic trot music was nicely matched to Dancer Khan’s paces and didn’t over power her light footed style. The duo completed their test with a powerful extended trot, the judges gave 70.41%. Popular guest commentator Isobel Wessells was thrilled to open the night with a super test! “I think the rider will be pleased! The beautiful music really suited the light footed way the horse works and the music really enhanced the way of going. What a lovely way to start the evening! There were a couple of mistakes but there was a lot to like.” Opening with a flowing extended trot, Paul Hayler produced some strong trot work on Sandra Cowing’s Balero II. Shoulder in ridden on the centre line and steep half pass zig zags in trot showed Balero’s quality within the lateral work. The canter programme also showed much scope for the future with energetic changes and more strong lateral work in the canter half passes. A couple of mistakes in the three tempis and right pirouette just kept the marks back, but a promising test gave the duo 66.95%. “Powerful music to suit a big powerful horse,” said Isobel, “the start of the test was interesting with a nice extension enhanced by the music. He became a little tense in the collected walk and canter today but Paul of course steered him through the test very well. There’s lots to like for the future.” Isobel also gave credit to a good floorplan which well suited the scopey Balero. Receiving an appreciative round of applause from the crowd, Paul Friday scored 69.20% with Sarah Overson’s Hawtins Horatio for their upbeat 80s pop music programme. The extended trot was a clear highlight with the British-bred gelding showing a lovely open frame and freedom of the shoulder. The canter pirouette right showed lovely collection within four balanced strides and the three and four time tempi changes were shown on a daring curved line. Isobel enjoyed Paul’s choice of upbeat music, “I like the music and I really like the horse, he has much potential for the future – there were a few mistakes today but the changes on the curved line were very nice.” Tania Grantham opted to start her test on Tina Grantham’s Samarino (by Samarant) with a walk pirouette into collected walk and extended walk on a half circle. The energetic Samarino showed a little too much exuberance with a small jog creeping into the collected walk but Tania used his power to her benefit within the canter and trot tours. “Tania will be very pleased with him,” reviewed Isobel, “he looked a little on edge tonight but it was very clever how she got the walk done early whilst he was still relaxed.” Classical music and an instrumental version of One Republic’s Secrets added much drama to Nathalie Kayal’s performance on board her own DHI Cleverboy. The tall gelding by Sandreo delivered balanced lateral work with explosive extensions, with Nathalie always keeping the poll at the highest point and a steady, consistent contact. The Beaconsfield-based rider chose to present her test in a snaffle; the consistent contact was proven again in walk and canter. Guest commentator Isobel Wessels praised the elegant rider for her efforts in the NAF Five Star Arena - “Nathalie you did a great job – it was very polished, it was very well balanced. The canter could be a little more through but the lines in the floorplan were very nice. A few little things but overall a super job!” For Nathalie, the end result was fifth with 70.62%. BD judge Sara Jane Lanning delivered a test full of drama on board her own faithful partner Mi Amigo. The 17 year old gelding showed good activity in the trot work, where the rider chose a mirrored floorplan with half pass zig zags and shoulder in on the centre line. ‘Zoa’ showed his talent for tempi changes in the canter tour with fours and threes ridden on 20m circle lines – they were in fact the sole combination to attempt this on Friday’s Gala Performance evening. Sara Jane was another rider to earn praise from Isobel who commented at the end of her test, “Well deserved cheers! Overall the music and floorplan really worked together, a difficult test with accomplished riding – very well done!” Rhythmical trot work accompanied Queen’s It’s A Kind of Magic to start Sarah Williams freestyle on board Georgina Howards’ Bohingus W in tuneful style. Neat pirouettes and flowing half passes were a highlight in canter, accompanied by Radio Gaga, but a couple of unfortunate mistakes in the tempi changes just kept the score back tonight, the duo earned 65.58%. “I’m a Freddie fan!” Isobel praised the all Queen arrangement, “There were some difficult movements in this test to show off the good training of this horse. The self-carriage could’ve been better towards the end but a really nice test and an enjoyable freestyle.” With Lucy Swinden’s Odwigs Echo, Sheffield lady Becky Moody proved her class once again with an impressive freestyle scoring 70.16%. The eye-catching coloured didn’t put a hoof out of place in the trot tour which was followed by a collected walk and extended walk of great quality. A small mistake in the four tempi changes certainly didn’t deter from an enjoyable programme. Small, balanced pirouettes and a powerful extended canter were appreciated by the knowledgeable crowd and Isobel Wessels: “What a choreography! Lots of changes of hand, which really test the suppleness – it’ll be noticed by the judges. Really difficult interesting movements, there were a couple of mistakes tonight but well done Becky.” Starting her freestyle in canter, Lara Edwards rode a packed floorplan on board Laura Milner’s Jazzed Up with tricky lines including one handed tempi changes into half pirouettes. The Jazz sired gelding has tones of potential and showed all his talent in the trot tour, the lateral work was full of energy with a super active hind leg. There was just one small mistake in the final trot half pass zig zag in an otherwise impressive test, Isobel summarised “It’s a very elegant light-footed horse and Lara used the choreography to show the horse off well. It was a nice inventive program and the horse became more and more relaxed as the test went on. Lovely horse and lots of nice things.” The combination placed 10th with 69.16%. Charlotte Dicker brought her 2018 European Young Rider Championship partner forward to contest the Magic title and their test didn’t disappoint – 68.79% was the score. Tempi changes on the centre line and 20m circles stood out and the canter pirouettes were secure. The elegant ‘Soli’ showed elevated extensions in both trot and canter, and Charlotte a complex floorplan with skills beyond her 19 years. “I thought the overall picture was very dramatic,” Isobel commented on the young rider’s test, “the choreography was intricate so well done for showing some steep half passes and tight pirouettes on the centre line. The horse lacked a little elasticity but going into this arena is not easy, Charlotte coped very well – well done.” Charlotte Dujardin pupil Jessica Wade brought her bright bay partner Empire H forward for her debut performance on Gala night at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. The 10 year old by Santano has outstanding action in trot with much lift and impulsion; his extended walk was also notable, showing a nice lengthening of the frame. Riding to a compilation of modern pop music from Freya Ridings and Clean Bandit, Jessica completed her test with bold canter work, small pirouettes and neat changes. The panel of Peter Storr (C), Claudia Haller (M) and Mary Anne Horn (E) gave 69.20% for a solid test. “It was such a pity about the ending,” said Isobel post-test as she praised Jessica’s attempt to repeat her right pirouette which proved tricky first time around. “He’s a wonderful horse with such nice activity and a trot that’s nicely off the ground. He’s light-footed and very in front of the rider – clearly there’s lots of ability. I also liked the music, it was different and well fitted.” With her second ride of the evening, Hannah Moody’s Full Fusion BS, Becky Moody opted to ride her successful Sherlock Holmes routine. The athletic bay gelding was competed successfully by Hannah previously and looked in top form tonight with sister Becky in the saddle. In the canter work, the three tempi changes and pirouettes were top quality, the extended walk supple and in trot the extensions were very bold. A couple of tiny communication errors kept the score to 73.12%, and Isobel was quick to commend a great effort. “The horse is really talented for the pirouettes and the subtle change in the pirouette really highlighted that. There were a couple of little mistakes but a super horse and as always, very well ridden by Becky.” Local lady Katie Bailey and the ten year old Eagle Nouvelle debuted an ethereal freestyle by maestro Tom Hunt set to James Newton Howards’ scores from Peter Pan and Maleficent. A huge extended walk showed outstanding suppleness over the back, the flying changes were straight, active and expressive and in trot the horse showed much ability for the future. Overall, a polished test with a supreme floorplan and music programme was enough to move Katie into the lead with 73.70%. Isobel was as impressed as the judges’ panel: “I thought that was really super – wonderful fluent test, much harmony and ease. The horse made no mistakes and I really loved this music – it’s been my favourite so far!” Penultimate rider Hannah Biggs brought a very different freestyle into the arena with modern tunes, including music from Labrinth and Tiny Tempah. British-bred ‘Archie’ has been in top form this season but unfortunately the Hartpury atmosphere caused a couple of small mistakes to creep in. Nevertheless, Hannah produced high quality trot work with lovely, flowing half passes and a really stand out extended walk. “Really difficult choreography and unusual lines. The horse has some strong highlights, a wonderful extended walk – as a judge you think wow how much more ground cover could there be. He has lovely natural gaits and overall it was a super, really intricate test – great job!” For Hannah tonight the score was a respectable 69.04%. Headmore Davina has been nothing but a dream for Alice Oppenheimer and she pulled yet another fantastic test out of the bag tonight as the duo trotted down the centre line to conclude the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold. An exciting floorplan mirrored the work in both trot and canter on both reins and showed Davina’s many highlights. Reviewing the successful duo, Isobel concluded “Alice has done another super test with this horse! She always rides a brilliant freestyle and the music was lovely. Alice you’ve got a super horse, there were a few little mistakes tonight but really really top riding.” For Alice, the score tonight was 70.79% and her eventual placing fourth – another fantastic effort. However it was Katie Bailey to enjoy a deserved moment in the spotlight in front of a supportive home crowd. It wasn’t a victory Katie was expecting; “I was hoping for a top three but never expected this. I’m a bit speechless but thrilled to pip the others today!” she said. Katie has had the German bred gelding, by jumping sire Singapore, for two and a half years and he was working at Elementary when she took the ride on for owner Hannah Dovey. “Eddie is just the kindest horse. He coped really well with the atmosphere and he’s such a trier. Everything just came together a little more than normal tonight,” she said. The duo are in action tomorrow night in the Saturday Gala Performance Superflex Inter I Freestyle and those odds have suddenly shortened on them walking away with both showcase titles.   For full results - click here

With the nation in a betting mood ahead of tomorrow’s Randox Health Grand National, the bookies would have had short odds on riders like Hannah Biggs, Becky Moody and Alice Oppenheimer for tonight’s Gala Performance feature class, the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold Championship. However, it was the relative outsiders Katie Bailey and Eagle Novelle who swept to a narrow victory much to the crowd’s delight. Henrietta Cheetham and her own Dancer Khan kicked the night off in style with a test full of highlights. Starting in canter to Toto’s Africa the duo rode flowing tempi changes on curved lines followed by small pirouettes presented on the centre line. The extended walk showed a solid two hooves overtrack and nice relaxation with the elegant bay seeking the contact forwards. The energetic trot music was nicely matched to Dancer Khan’s paces and didn’t over power her light footed style. The duo completed their test with a powerful extended trot, the judges gave 70.41%. Popular guest commentator Isobel Wessells was thrilled to open the night with a super test! “I think the rider will be pleased! The beautiful music really suited the light footed way the horse works and the music really enhanced the way of going. What a lovely way to start the evening! There were a couple of mistakes but there was a lot to like.” Opening with a flowing extended trot, Paul Hayler produced some strong trot work on Sandra Cowing’s Balero II. Shoulder in ridden on the centre line and steep half pass zig zags in trot showed Balero’s quality within the lateral work. The canter programme also showed much scope for the future with energetic changes and more strong lateral work in the canter half passes. A couple of mistakes in the three tempis and right pirouette just kept the marks back, but a promising test gave the duo 66.95%. “Powerful music to suit a big powerful horse,” said Isobel, “the start of the test was interesting with a nice extension enhanced by the music. He became a little tense in the collected walk and canter today but Paul of course steered him through the test very well. There’s lots to like for the future.” Isobel also gave credit to a good floorplan which well suited the scopey Balero. Receiving an appreciative round of applause from the crowd, Paul Friday scored 69.20% with Sarah Overson’s Hawtins Horatio for their upbeat 80s pop music programme. The extended trot was a clear highlight with the British-bred gelding showing a lovely open frame and freedom of the shoulder. The canter pirouette right showed lovely collection within four balanced strides and the three and four time tempi changes were shown on a daring curved line. Isobel enjoyed Paul’s choice of upbeat music, “I like the music and I really like the horse, he has much potential for the future – there were a few mistakes today but the changes on the curved line were very nice.” Tania Grantham opted to start her test on Tina Grantham’s Samarino (by Samarant) with a walk pirouette into collected walk and extended walk on a half circle. The energetic Samarino showed a little too much exuberance with a small jog creeping into the collected walk but Tania used his power to her benefit within the canter and trot tours. “Tania will be very pleased with him,” reviewed Isobel, “he looked a little on edge tonight but it was very clever how she got the walk done early whilst he was still relaxed.” Classical music and an instrumental version of One Republic’s Secrets added much drama to Nathalie Kayal’s performance on board her own DHI Cleverboy. The tall gelding by Sandreo delivered balanced lateral work with explosive extensions, with Nathalie always keeping the poll at the highest point and a steady, consistent contact. The Beaconsfield-based rider chose to present her test in a snaffle; the consistent contact was proven again in walk and canter. Guest commentator Isobel Wessels praised the elegant rider for her efforts in the NAF Five Star Arena - “Nathalie you did a great job – it was very polished, it was very well balanced. The canter could be a little more through but the lines in the floorplan were very nice. A few little things but overall a super job!” For Nathalie, the end result was fifth with 70.62%. BD judge Sara Jane Lanning delivered a test full of drama on board her own faithful partner Mi Amigo. The 17 year old gelding showed good activity in the trot work, where the rider chose a mirrored floorplan with half pass zig zags and shoulder in on the centre line. ‘Zoa’ showed his talent for tempi changes in the canter tour with fours and threes ridden on 20m circle lines – they were in fact the sole combination to attempt this on Friday’s Gala Performance evening. Sara Jane was another rider to earn praise from Isobel who commented at the end of her test, “Well deserved cheers! Overall the music and floorplan really worked together, a difficult test with accomplished riding – very well done!” Rhythmical trot work accompanied Queen’s It’s A Kind of Magic to start Sarah Williams freestyle on board Georgina Howards’ Bohingus W in tuneful style. Neat pirouettes and flowing half passes were a highlight in canter, accompanied by Radio Gaga, but a couple of unfortunate mistakes in the tempi changes just kept the score back tonight, the duo earned 65.58%. “I’m a Freddie fan!” Isobel praised the all Queen arrangement, “There were some difficult movements in this test to show off the good training of this horse. The self-carriage could’ve been better towards the end but a really nice test and an enjoyable freestyle.” With Lucy Swinden’s Odwigs Echo, Sheffield lady Becky Moody proved her class once again with an impressive freestyle scoring 70.16%. The eye-catching coloured didn’t put a hoof out of place in the trot tour which was followed by a collected walk and extended walk of great quality. A small mistake in the four tempi changes certainly didn’t deter from an enjoyable programme. Small, balanced pirouettes and a powerful extended canter were appreciated by the knowledgeable crowd and Isobel Wessels: “What a choreography! Lots of changes of hand, which really test the suppleness – it’ll be noticed by the judges. Really difficult interesting movements, there were a couple of mistakes tonight but well done Becky.” Starting her freestyle in canter, Lara Edwards rode a packed floorplan on board Laura Milner’s Jazzed Up with tricky lines including one handed tempi changes into half pirouettes. The Jazz sired gelding has tones of potential and showed all his talent in the trot tour, the lateral work was full of energy with a super active hind leg. There was just one small mistake in the final trot half pass zig zag in an otherwise impressive test, Isobel summarised “It’s a very elegant light-footed horse and Lara used the choreography to show the horse off well. It was a nice inventive program and the horse became more and more relaxed as the test went on. Lovely horse and lots of nice things.” The combination placed 10th with 69.16%. Charlotte Dicker brought her 2018 European Young Rider Championship partner forward to contest the Magic title and their test didn’t disappoint – 68.79% was the score. Tempi changes on the centre line and 20m circles stood out and the canter pirouettes were secure. The elegant ‘Soli’ showed elevated extensions in both trot and canter, and Charlotte a complex floorplan with skills beyond her 19 years. “I thought the overall picture was very dramatic,” Isobel commented on the young rider’s test, “the choreography was intricate so well done for showing some steep half passes and tight pirouettes on the centre line. The horse lacked a little elasticity but going into this arena is not easy, Charlotte coped very well – well done.” Charlotte Dujardin pupil Jessica Wade brought her bright bay partner Empire H forward for her debut performance on Gala night at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. The 10 year old by Santano has outstanding action in trot with much lift and impulsion; his extended walk was also notable, showing a nice lengthening of the frame. Riding to a compilation of modern pop music from Freya Ridings and Clean Bandit, Jessica completed her test with bold canter work, small pirouettes and neat changes. The panel of Peter Storr (C), Claudia Haller (M) and Mary Anne Horn (E) gave 69.20% for a solid test. “It was such a pity about the ending,” said Isobel post-test as she praised Jessica’s attempt to repeat her right pirouette which proved tricky first time around. “He’s a wonderful horse with such nice activity and a trot that’s nicely off the ground. He’s light-footed and very in front of the rider – clearly there’s lots of ability. I also liked the music, it was different and well fitted.” With her second ride of the evening, Hannah Moody’s Full Fusion BS, Becky Moody opted to ride her successful Sherlock Holmes routine and enjoyed a score of 73.12% as the reward. The athletic bay gelding was competed successfully by Hannah previously and looked in top form tonight with sister Becky in the saddle. In the canter work, the three tempi changes and pirouettes were top quality, the extended walk supple and in trot the extensions were very bold. A couple of tiny communication errors kept the score to X, but Isobel’s was quick to commend a great effort. “The horse is really talented for the pirouettes and the subtle change in the pirouette really highlighted that. There were a couple of little mistakes but a super horse and as always, very well ridden by Becky.” Local lady Katie Bailey and the ten year old Eagle Nouvelle debuted an ethereal freestyle by maestro Tom Hunt set to James Newton Howards’ scores from Peter Pan and Maleficent. A huge extended walk showed outstanding suppleness over the back, the flying changes were straight, active and expressive and in trot the horse showed much ability for the future. Overall, a polished test with a supreme floorplan and music programme was enough to move Katie into the lead with 73.70%. Isobel was as impressed as the judges’ panel: “I thought that was really super – wonderful fluent test, much harmony and ease. The horse made no mistakes and I really loved this music – it’s been my favourite so far!” Penultimate rider Hannah Biggs brought a very different freestyle into the arena with modern tunes, including music from Labrinth and Tiny Tempah. British-bred ‘Archie’ has been in top form this season but unfortunately the Hartpury atmosphere caused a couple of small mistakes to creep in. Nevertheless, Hannah produced high quality trot work with lovely, flowing half passes and a really strand out extended walk. “Really difficult choreography and unusual lines. The horse has some strong highlights, a wonderful extended walk – as a judge you think wow how much more ground cover could there be. He has lovely natural gaits and overall it was a super, really intricate test – great job!” For Hannah tonight the score was a respectable 69.04%. Headmore Davina has been nothing but a dream for Alice Oppenheimer and she pulled yet another fantastic test out of the bag tonight as the duo trotted down the centre line to conclude the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold. An exciting floorplan mirrored the work in both trot and canter on both reins and showed Davina’s many highlights. Reviewing the successful duo, Isobel concluded “Alice has done another super test with this horse! She always rides a brilliant freestyle and the music was lovely. Alice you’ve got a super horse, there were a few little mistakes tonight but really really top riding.” For Alice, the score tonight was 70.79% and her eventual placing fourth – another fantastic effort. However it was Katie Bailey to enjoy a deserved moment in the spotlight in front of a supportive home crowd. It wasn’t a victory Katie was expecting; “I was hoping for a top three but never expected this. I’m a bit speechless but thrilled to pip the others today!” she said. Katie has had the German bred gelding, by jumping sire Singapore, for two and a half years and he was working at Elementary when she took the ride on for owner Hannah Dovey. “Eddie is just the kindest horse. He coped really well with the atmosphere and he’s such a trier. Everything just came together a little more than normal tonight,” she said. The duo are in action tomorrow night in the Saturday Gala Performance Superflex Inter I Freestyle and those odds have suddenly shortened on them walking away with both showcase titles.   For full results - click here

Due to heavy rain today and overnight all competition at Dalkeith (1) on Sunday 7th April has been abandoned. 

The NAF Five Star Winter Championships is always well supported by multiple gold medallist, and local girl, Charlotte Dujardin. She loves to ride here for the opportunity it gives to expose young horses to the big stage. The opening class of day three was no exception, 2019 being the year for her and MSJ Charmer to make their championship debut together at the show; and they did it in style, winning a super-hot Blue Chip Novice Gold Championship with a cracking score of 77.96%. MSJ Charmer (Charmeur x Danone I) is a five-year-old gelding who Charlotte co-owns with Verity Jenner. “I was just hoping to get him round and have a good ride,” said Charlotte. “He went a bit green but he tried really hard. There’s a lot for a young horse to see in there [Hartpury Arena] but he coped so well. He’s new to it all but he’s not spooky at all. He just went in and delivered. I couldn’t be happier with him.” Known at home as ‘Cookie’, MSJ Charmer was bought by Charlotte as a foal from Emma Blundell at the Mount St John Stud. “He’s such a cool horse and it’s lovely to have had him from a foal. I know everything about him. I normally buy them between two and three [years old], so this feels surreal – to have had him since a baby and now to be competing him here,” she smiled. “This is only the second time I’ve competed him as Rob [Barker] qualified him for the Regionals, and I’ve loved every minute. Verity Jenner, who owns him with me, is here too. It’s the first time she’s seen him compete.” From Emma Blundell’s first crop of foals, one of things about MSJ Charmer that caught Charlotte’s eye was his incredible canter. “He cantered as a foal as he does now. The canter is like Valegro’s. And he’s been a pleasure to produce. He’s such a cool horse. He’s lovely to do at home and you forget he’s five. He’s brave; he hacks; he’s very mature,” she added. The Blue Chip Novice Gold was a highly competitive affair with the top ten competitors all on 70%-plus. The runner-up spot was taken by Becky Moody with the young stallion James Bond 2 (77.90%), with birthday girl Judy Harvey and SP Bento (76.23%) completing the top three. Happy birthday Judy! Petplan Equine Novice Bronze A rider on the first horse she’s ever owned was the winner of the Petplan Equine Novice Bronze Area Festival Championship this morning. Buckinghamshire-based Laura Green and her towering gelding Ireldo L (by Hofrat) achieved a score of 70.06% to take the coveted national title. “I’m thrilled with him,” beamed Laura after the prize-giving in the Hartpury Arena. “It feels incredible to come here and win. He felt very good today. He was hot in the warm-up, but he relaxed in the arena and tried his heart out for me. He really allowed me to ride the walk, and the canter was so uphill.” Laura has a background working with horses for TV and film and has been involved in shoots for Game of Thrones, War and Peace and King Arthur. Three years ago however, she swapped careers to pursue her dream of becoming a dressage rider. “I now work as a groom and rider at Twyford Mill Equestrian in Buckinghamshire and back and produce young horses and schooling liveries,” said Laura who trains with Tom Graham, George Blackburn and Judy Harvey. Six-year-old Ireldo L is a bay KWPN gelding whose legs go on forever. “I stopped measuring him when he got to 17.3hh!” laughed Laura. “I bought him as an unbacked three-year-old from Henry Boswell. I backed him and produced him myself, and he’s been a dream to produce all along. He always tries for me.” Petplan Equine Novice Silver Cheshire rider Fiona Newall has won today’s Petplan Equine Novice Silver Area Festival Championship title today in convincing style. With her beautiful German gelding Don Romance she headed the field on 72.22% and with a winning margin of almost two percent. Mum of two and full-time accountant, Fiona, was clearly delighted when we caught up with her after the prize-giving. “This is absolutely amazing,” she enthused. “I cannot believe it! He was incredible today because he lit up in the arena yet was still so rideable. I have never felt his trot like it. I don’t know where it came from!” Fiona has owned Don Romance (For Romance x Don Kennedy), now six, since he was a three-year-old. “I saw him advertised on Facebook. He was for sale along with several showjumpers although he’s dressage bred. He was a dressage gem amongst them and I could see all his potential.” With the support of her parents Ian and Lorna, who were on hand to support today, Fiona manages to fit her riding in around her career and family. “I couldn’t do any of this without them. They are a huge support” Fiona trains with Kate Cowell who she credits for ‘transforming her riding.’ Don Romance’s routine includes daily turnout and working just three or four times a week to give him time to grow into his 17.2hh frame. Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver After taking a second place spot in yesterday’s Intermediate I Bronze, Charlotte Cundall went one better today as she claimed victory in the Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver Championships with the Lady Joseph Trust’s Simply Red. Grade V Para Dressage starlet Charlotte was the only rider to crack the 70% barrier with her winning score, a supreme 71.70%. “I’m absolutely over the moon, I just can’t believe! To come second yesterday and go one better today is amazing, I’m ecstatic,” Charlotte enthused about her win today, “We went in the Advanced Medium Freestyle earlier but I was just so pleased with his test in this class, he was brilliant.” Charlotte thanked her trainer Amy Woodhead and today’s acting trainer, none other than Amy’s mum Tracey who stepped in at the last minute – “Amy had to dash off to Carl’s for a lesson so she briefed Tracey and said what we needed to do! She did a great job of helping me in the warm up and it really worked. The half passes in our test were a highlight, his changes were really clean and they’re definitely his forte.” Having recently returned from a successful international debut in Denmark, Charlotte has spent the last couple of weeks working on the basics in preparation for the Petplan Equine Area Festivals. Looking forwards to the rest of the year she’s excited to having a shot at the BD summer regionals, the Equissage Pulse Para Dressage Gold Semi-Finals and a couple more trips overseas to fly the flag for Great Britain. Summarising her Hartpury experience, Charlotte concluded: “It’s so surreal, you work hard all winter and it’s so nice to come here and for it to actually happen. Everybody comes to the winters with the same dream but only one person in each class can achieve their dream!” Superflex Intermediate I Gold Continuing arguably the best week of her career so far, Alice Oppenheimer notched up her third win of the week, and her fourteenth national title, with a victory in the Superflex Intermediate I Championship on-board her mother Sarah’s delightful home-bred Headmore Davina. A polished test packed with powerful pirouettes, balanced trot work and an superb extended walk impressed the judges panel of Linda Whetstone, Jenny Ward and Penelope Lang who rewarded the duo 72.71% for their efforts. “I was worried yesterday that we would get stuck on title number 13, I thought it might be unlucky!” Alice laughed after her prize giving, “Luckily Davina sorted that out for me!” About her wonder horse Alice said, “She’s just such a talented mare, the pirouettes I had in there today were amazing. I always say she only makes a mistake if I do, it’s just up to me to ride her. You can really trust her – she pulls it out of the bag every time.” It’s not been plain-sailing with the talented chestnut who proved tricky to back and produce as a young horse, “Dannie stepped in and was brilliant for giving her confidence. She was unridable in warm ups and nobody could sit her broncs – people would tell us just to leave it and breed from her but why would we breed from something that we can’t prove we can ride? Once we worked her out and got her going she’s just never said no, she’s just so special.” Former pilot Dannie Morgan jumped in to praise proud breeder Sarah Oppenheimer, “It’s an amazing achievement for a breeder to have so many horses win here this week, we’re very lucky to be a part of it.” In a week of outstanding team effort, Alice also paid credit to stand in groom Donald Fraser, who’s been on hand to help the Headmore crew, “I think he’s my lucky charm! He’s going to have to come with us every time!” TheraPlate UK Medium Silver It was a cracking class for the first ever Medium Championship sponsored by TheraPlate UK with 27 combinations coming forward to bid for the title under judges Debbie Jones, Sophie Dickinson and Cherry Elvin. Jennifer Martell, riding Fiderstan for owner Jade Guyton, made the most of a late draw to take the win on 74.41%, over three percent ahead of her nearest rival. Fourth spot in the SureGrow Elementary yesterday set them up well for their ride; “He was so relaxed today and gave me everything! He ‘let me in’ and whatever I asked, he willingly gave. The atmosphere really helped as it lit him up and got extra power,” said a delighted Jennifer. Jennifer and ‘Tigger’, by German sire For Compliment, have been together for about a year when her ‘boss’ Amy Woodhead secured the ride for her. “We’ve spent a lot of time getting him stronger as he’s so big. I also needed to get stronger as his paces are so big! We did a few tests, qualified for the Regionals and all of a sudden, we’re here – it’s been a whirlwind!” said Jennifer. It was a return to Hartpury for Jennifer as she’s a former student here and it was while being a part of the Academy that she met Carl Hester as he’s a trainer for the programme and Amy was working for him. “I’ve been with her for two years; I love working there – Amy’s just the best boss. I’m so lucky to have three amazing trainers like Ian, Tracy and Amy. They all are very different but I’ve learnt so much from them. it's a great place to work and I can't wait to get home and take him [Tigger] for a ride on the beach!” she beamed. “He’s just a gentle giant and definitely a horse for the future and I want to take him up to Grand Prix,” Jennifer concluded. Based on today’s performance, few would doubt her goal. Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver It may not have been a smooth run up to Hartpury for Warwickshire rider Keri Bates and her Danish-bred Christianslund Gevalia as injury meant missed work in preparation but they didn’t let that stop them in storming to a resounding three percent victory in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver. Para rider Izzy Palmer held the lead for much of the class with Sophie Wells’s Touchdown M but Keri and Gevalia proved too strong. Keri, who runs Ekko Equestrian with her sister Rebecca from their base in Southam, has had the De Noir sired mare for two years after discovering her in her native Denmark. “She’d been ridden by a para rider but done very little,” explained Keri. The pair won their Regional at Addington so were in good form but a cracked splint bone meant an enforced rest but it clearly just freshened the mare up as all three judges were unanimous in scoring her as the winner. Keri is now hoping to build the mare’s fitness up after the enforced layoff and bring her back out at Prix St Georges with the aim of doing an International plus balancing her busy schedule at the yard and her new found love of judging. “I’ve got my part 3 exam next week to become a list 3 judge and am really looking forward to it. The new fast track system has been amazing and I’ve learned so much in the last six months, I just love it!” For full results – click here Listen to audio interviews with our winners – click here

Lila Bremner finishes 3rd in Opglabbeek Pony Grand Prix

Positive cases reported in Dorset; Investigation underway; How owners can help prevent the disease from spreading

 

Despite battling wind, rain and sleet, Jess Bennett and JB Dukaat kicked day two off with a super test in the Petplan Equine Arenas to take home the Intermediate I Area Festival title. The judges panel of Tim Downes, Andrew Bennie and Kim Ratcliffe rewarded the duo’s polished performance with 69.60%. “I was so pleased with his test, he’s still new to the level and that’s only his fifth Intermediate 1 – he’s done really well. His extended trot and canter work is a real highlight, the changes have been a real problem through the years so they can be a bit hit and miss but today they were all there!” Jess and ‘Joey’ have a good record at the Winter Championships having picked up the Charles Owen Advanced Medium title in 2017. “He gets very excitable in the indoor arena! We’re back this afternoon for the PSG so I expect him to very over excited about…especially after a prize giving!” The Petplan Equine Area Festivals have provided the perfect opportunity for Jess to aim Joey at a competition with the right atmosphere for him, “I’ve aimed him for the Area Festival Championships knowing the outdoor arena would suit him, it’s also been a great opportunity to give him experience at the level because he is so green.” Full-time rider Jess plans to train Joey through the levels and will have a shot at the Summer Regionals at both Prix St Georges and Intermediate I. Talking about her 11 year old gelding’s character Jess said, “I call him my overgrown pony, he’s usually so quiet and easy and then he goes out…especially to Hartpury…and goes a bit wild!” Second place went to rising Para Dressage star Charlotte Cundall with Brenda Reddy’s BamBam, whilst under 25s rider Izzy Chaplin claimed third on board Coral Ingham’s Vincente II. Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Hampshire’s Alice Oppenheimer made her final Elementary outing with her homebred Headmore Bella Ruby one to remember as they claimed their first title together in the Equi-Trek Gold. “She’s been the bridesmaid so often, she finally deserves that win!” exclaimed Alice. Alice was first to go with her other homebred, Headmore Dionysus, owned by Amanda Radford, and firmly laid down the gauntlet with a score of 73.54%. She held the lead for nearly two hours only to go and overtake herself with the Belissimo M seven year old mare with 74.27%. There were a few strong challengers to come but the Headmore duo held on to their top two places. ‘Bella’, who has an embryo transfer foal by Franklin due this year, was broken by Ryan Shannon as a three year old; “The first time I sat on her, I knew she was special. Mum watched her and I said how amazing was and would go to the top, but she couldn’t see it, but I said, ‘well I can certainly feel it’. She’s just what you look for; go-ey, off the leg, an amazing canter.” Alice was quite emotional, and deservedly so. “She’s such a genuine mare! She’s such a pro inside the white boards. Yesterday she was quite quirky in the warm up, almost naughty but she’s not really like that; she quite surprised me. I had a think about why and decided that it’s just the way she shows her nerves,” said an emotional Alice. “I gave her an easy time in the warm up today and she was super, just 100% with me in the test. You get a good mare like that who tries for you and…there’s no feeling like it.” And the tears began to fall, it was proof of the bond this partnership share. Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze Area Festival Some seven months after winning the Elementary title at the inaugural BD Bronze Championships, veteran rider Patricia Smith and her partner of three and a half years Helios claimed another title today when heading the Petplan Equine Area Festival Elementary Bronze. Riding in the pouring spring rain, the duo powered on to score 69.51%. Their victory score in August was 67.18% so their training at home with Jade Dawson is clearly paying off. “He couldn’t have gone better despite getting soaked through!” said an elated Patricia. “I was really pleased with my medium trot lines. He doesn’t have flashy paces and isn’t extravagant but he was very consistent today and I really felt a difference. The weather didn’t bother me. I have an outdoor at home and if it’s raining and I’m less than enthusiastic, my trainer says ‘it could be like this in a competition day’ so we get on with it!” she continued. Helios, or Ozzy, is by KEC Diamond Millinium who’s a grandson of the legendary King of Diamonds. Patricia bought him from a dealer who said he’d done a bit of showing but dressage was her aim. The started in Team Quest with a group from their local Wokingham Riding Club before going solo and enjoying success at Prelim and Novice in the Draught Associated Championships, Petplan Equine Area Festivals and Winter Championships. The pair now have Medium firmly on their ‘to do’ list, “I’ll have to learn some new tricks!” joked Patricia. Petplan Equine Elementary Silver Area Festival In a true story of triumph over adversity, Lisa Clarkson and her own eight year old Giannova were the combination to shine through the afternoon rain in the Petplan Equine Elementary Silver class, taking the accolades with 70.09%. “The conditions were horrible!” said Lisa about her winning test, “Through my warm up the weather was getting worse and worse, sideways wind and rain, he didn’t even want to walk in it! In the test he was such a good boy, he can be a little sharp so I was really proud that he held it together. We had a couple of small mistakes but I was still pleased overall.” Post-test Lisa went back to the stables and discovered her score, unplaited and starting getting ready to leave before being told an hour later by the secretaries that she had in fact won! “They told me that I had 20 minutes to get ready so I called my trainer Becky Moody and her team came to the rescue – it took them only eight minutes to plait him and make him look beautiful again whilst I put all my wet show gear back on!” True survivor Giannova has had a tough journey to the top battling with MRSA after having a tooth removed a couple of years ago. “We nearly lost him, he had to have two lots of surgery under general anaesthetic because we couldn’t get rid of the infection. He’s lucky to be alive really! But we couldn’t miss our moment of glory, it’s a lifetime ambition to win a championship rug. “He’s a lot of fun to ride but he can be challenging,” Lisa added about her gelding by Goldfever, whom she discovered in Holland as a three year old. With trainer Becky Moody’s help she’s produced him through the levels to Petplan success. “I went to Becky for work experience age 13 and I’m 31 now! I’m based with her and she helps us a few times a week which makes a massive difference.” Lisa balances riding alongside a career in Pensions and plans to compete her wonder horse at the summer regionals at Elementary and Medium level, “I’m really excited about him, hopefully the changes will be secure enough for us to have a go at an Advanced Medium before too long.” Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver For Maeve Morris it’s been two days, two tests and two titles! Today she scored a convincing 77.31% to add the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver to her growing collection on board wonder horse Headmore Footloose. “Amazing, absolutely amazing!” Maeve said about today’s performance where the pair danced to a Sara Green compilation including tunes from Footloose… what else! The elegant bay six-year-old ‘Eric’, who is by Florencio and out of a Dimaggio mare, has all the qualities of a great horse. “His greatest strength is that he has no weaknesses,” said Maeve, “and he just wants to do the job well. He always does what you ask.” Proud trainer Alice Oppenheimer had not one, but two tests to watch nervously from the sidelines in this class as her sister Kate rode to ninth place on board SOS Sealpoint. With four wins now in the bag, it’s very much looking like Headmore Stud’s time to enjoy a moment in the spotlight, and perhaps some celebratory champagne too. Magic Prix St Georges Gold With the withdrawal of Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John VIP, today’s Magic Prix St Georges Gold was opened right up. The class drew quite a crowd of spectators, such was the quality still, and they were rewarded with a cracking PSG competition which was ultimately taken in style by Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Davina. Fresh from taking an emphatic one-two in this morning’s Equi-Trek Elementary Gold, Alice Oppenheimer, going in the first group of riders before the break, produced a super test to score 71.05% from the judging panel of Fiona Wilson (E), Nick Burton (C) and Peter Storr (M). “She [Headmore Davina] was super,” enthused Alice. “I’m so happy with her and all the horses today. “It was the best trot work Davina’s ever produced in the ring. The canter pirouettes, which are normally her highlights, were not so good today. I felt I could have ridden them better, but that’s dressage riders – we always want perfection!” she smiled. “Davina is such a genuine horse and always tries hard for me. She can be a little silly and spooky outside but once between the white boards she gives everything. When you know you can trust a horse like that, it’s a nice feeling. She’s the kindest and sweetest horse too - she’s so lovely and polite.” Headmore Davina is a nine-year-old daughter of the Headmore Stud’s foundation mare Rubinsteena (Rubinstein) and the prolific stallion, Dimaggio. Remarkably she is a half-sister to Alice’s first- and second-placed rides this morning, a real feather in the cap to the matriarch of the Headmore dynasty, Rubinsteena. “They all have a real work ethic,” added Alice. Completing the top three was Becky Moody with both her rides, Full Fusion BS (70.96%) and Odwig’s Echo (70.08%). Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Lauren Noble (25) from Ripon in North Yorkshire claimed a close-fought Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Championship today at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. With her 11 year old British mare, Heartbreak (by Herzensdieb). “I’m a little overwhelmed…it’s still sinking in,” said Lauren after having time to reflect on her win. “I’m so happy with her. “I had no expectations after my test, I was simply happy with my horse, so to win is a huge bonus. This horse is the best thing ever.” Lauren travelled to Hartpury via her trainer Sonia Baines’ base in Derbyshire to put some polish on the half passes, a decision which certainly paid off as “they came off really well today.” The talented mare’s energy and verve was channelled to produce a test earning just shy of 70%. Second and third spot were taken by Denise Fryer with Keystone Starstruck and Holly Colgate Hardaway with Dalvangs Lorenzo on 69.56% and 69.03% respectively. Talking about how the partnership was formed, Lauren said she bought ‘Rose’, as she’s known, as a four-year-old and describes her as her first ‘proper dressage horse’, “I started out showjumping and also did a bit of eventing with my pony but it later became clear that I was more interested in the dressage. “A lady at Sonia Baines’ yard told me about a nice young horse there that was for sale. She thought she might suit me as the mare was quite sharp and I was quiet. When I rode her she gave me a great feel so I knew at that moment that she was right.” “It’s a nice feeling having gone up the levels together,” said Lauren. “She’s not been easy and is quite reactive. At her first summer Nationals she reacted to the clapping after somebody’s test, spooked, and jumped on one of the judges’ cars. She still came fourth though! “She’s had a bit a time off with injury but has come back stronger, both physically and mentally. She’s happier too. She just gets it now. Now she’s older, she can take in and deal with the atmosphere.” Petplan Equine Inter I Silver Danish born rider Anne-Marie Bork Eppers headed a thrilling Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver Championship today at Hartpury. With her 10-year-old Danish-bred gelding Zeilinger Firfod, she was awarded a score of 67.23% to head the class of 16 national finalists. “That was really amazing,” said a delighted Anne-Marie after their lap of honour in the Hartpury Arena this afternoon. “We came third last year in the Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Championship and I said we’d be here for the Inter I next year, and here we are! I’m so happy.” Talking through her test, Anne-Marie commented, “I was very happy with the trot work, and happy with the changes and pirouettes too.” Anne-Marie, who has been UK-based for six years, works in events and sports hospitality for a living. She trains with Charlie Hutton, Sam Rahmatallah and Richard Preston and bought Zeilinger Firfod in Denmark as six-year-old. “I’m Danish so I had to buy a Danish horse,” she smiled. Known at home as ‘Mumble’, after the penguin in the computer-animated film Happy Feet, the horse is described by his owner-rider as ‘really chilled then all of a sudden he switches on to perform.” Click here for full results.

BEF Equine Flu Update 4th April 2019

An opportunity for delegates from across the world to refresh their knowledge and skills; Wide range of expertise covered

There is no doubt that BE is having a tough time. Historically communication with members has not been as good as it should be and it's clear that we need to listen to our members. We know change is difficult and we haven’t got everything right first time but we are making changes for the right reasons and if we make a mistake or haven’t heard you clearly we will adjust our stride.    

It is with deep sadness we share the news that Gaye Harwood died after being involved in a collision with a lorry at Codmore Hill in Pulborough on Monday morning (April 1).

British-bred Headmore Footloose claimed a second championship of his young career in taking the first of 39 titles on offer on day one of the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Gloucestershire’s Hartpury Arena. With his rider of a year and a half, Maeve Morris, ‘Eric’ was awarded 71.6% for his efforts under judges Anne Keen, Andrew Bennie and Tim Downes to take the Blue Chip Novice Silver Championship by just under one percent. British stud Headmore is set to feature highly this week with ten horses bearing its prefix competing, all born at the Hampshire stable. Eric is a Headmore grandchild as his mum was also bred there. At last summer’s LeMieux National Championships, Maeve and Eric were KBIS Prelim champions and have continued their winning ways today. Maeve’s step mum Nicola bred and owns the horse. He was originally intended for her to ride but Maeve fell in love with him, enough to make her swap disciplines from jumping to dressage and they’ve been unstoppable ever since. Eric, rising six and by Florencio, is still stabled at Headmore and Maeve rides at the weekends when she shoots down from London where she works full-time as a property developer. She of course trains with Alice Oppenheimer and has had some lessons with Charlotte Dujardin when she’s down there. “I had a lovely ride today – the best ever for that test. There was a slight sat-nav failure when I stared doing my Freestyle test! It all came together today; I always struggle with my 10 metre circles but I think I did okay in there.” An approving nod from Alice confirmed, along with the comment; “It was a lovely test to watch.” So, the trainer approved. The duo are in action again tomorrow in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Silver Freestyle, and if you were wondering about music, well, there’s a clue in Eric’s show name! Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold It was a second score of the day for Britain’s breeders in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle when Nikki Barker scored a whopping 77.03% with her own five year old Dan Icarus. Nikki bought Dan Icarus as a yearling from his breeder Viv Gleave who she jointly owns her stallion Durable with, who also happens to be the sire! A delighted Nikki said; “He has exactly the same brain and temperament as his dad, it’s unbelievable how similar they are. He’s probably done about five tests in his life so he’s never done anything like this; he’s such a joy! With him, you get the horse you have at home in the arena here which is so special.” Nikki and ‘Ruben’ rode to music put together by Ros Emery Kay with songs from Rocky. Nikki says that since qualifying for the regionals and subsequently for Hartpury, Ruben has really developed and his paces have ‘grown’; “I found myself ahead of the music as his movement is so much bigger so we halted early! Still, it gave him chance to smile nicely at the judges to finish!” Nikki has a busy week with six horses qualified, including Ruben’s dad Durable so she’s had to enlist help from her support network. Even her dad has been coerced into lending a hand to drive a second lorry, ensuring Ruben had an extra smooth ride to Gloucestershire from Newmarket! Petplan Equine Medium Bronze There was no smile wider in the Hartpury Arena today than that of Sarah Edwards as she exited the prize giving following her victory in the Petplan Equine Area Festival Medium Bronze Championship. Riding her own Westphalian Impression G, by Insterburg, she scored 69.31% two win by just over two percent and take her first ever title. “I’m just so thrilled!” she kept saying and she patted ‘Charlie’ repeatedly. The Director of her own successful head hunting business, Sarah has enjoyed a life-long passion for horses and point to pointing was her discipline of choice in her younger days. Along with her supportive husband she still breeds racehorses. “I took up dressage and loved it. I got my last horse, Mr Tintin here but he was at his limit. I wanted to do more and aged 50 I had an urge to wear tails. So, a year ago bought Charlie, my first warmblood, and getting here has been our ambition ever since.” Some time off at Christmas was the only blip on their journey to get to Hartpury. “He felt very jolly in the arena walk and his test felt the best he’s ever done, it felt so smooth,” beamed Sarah. When her score came through, Sarah couldn’t quite believe it so she went to the Secretary just to double check but it was real! “It’s really a case of dreams do come true. I started as a real novice at Prelim on an ex-racehorse and BD has helped me learn so much, it’s been such an adventure. I hope to be here next year with Charlie in the Advanced Medium and then again the year after…in my tails!” Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Bethany Edginton, a young rider from Wakefield, has won today’s Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Championship with her Grandmother Jackie’s Oldenburg seven-year-old, Frankel. First to go in the 30-strong class, the pair led from the start with a cracking score of 72.29% from the judging panel of Sally Andrews (E), Alison Duck (C) and Sue Wood (M). Like his racing namesake, Frankel is full of quality and took victory in convincing style. “I’m just so happy with him,” said Bethany, visibly elated after the prize-giving in the Hartpury Arena. Reflecting on the win – her first ever championship victory - she said, “I have never won anything like it…it’s just amazing, completely amazing!” Describing their test, which was in the morning chill at 8am, Bethany commented, “He [Frankel] was really good. He can be quite spooky but today he focused on me and gave me everything. We’ve recently started teaching him changes and during a pre-Championships test run, he threw one in, so I was a bit concerned that it might happen again. But today he did a good clean test. He felt very good.” Frankel, a picture-perfect grey gelding by Fairbanks out of a His Highness mare, was bought from Caroline Saynor as a four-year-old for Bethany whose burgeoning interest in dressage inspired her to train her showjumping pony in her new discipline. A search for a dressage horse ensued. “We told Caroline that we wanted something talented, but also sensible,” said owner Jackie, “And that’s Frankel.’ Bethany, 17, who trains with Becky Moody, is doing an advanced apprenticeship at S and T Equestrian and, long term, plans to develop her family’s livery yard into a more competition focused set-up. “I didn’t want her to be as horsey as me,” laughed Jackie, “but she’s even worse than me!” Petplan Equine Area Festival Medium Silver Holding on to an early lead, eventer-turned-dressage rider Georgina Tapner and her Belissimo M-sired gelding Bugatti II have added today’s Petplan Equine Medium Silver Area Festival Championship title to their excellent Hartpury record. Winners of last year’s Petplan Equine Medium Bronze, the cool-headed pair were the first of the day in Petplan Arena 2. The only combination to breach the magic 70% barrier, with a mark of 70.68%, they lead throughout to once again claim their place on the Petplan Equine roll of honour. “I’m so happy with him,” said Georgina of the good looking German gelding. “It was a bit daunting to start going first, but he stayed relaxed and gave me a great ride. I really enjoyed riding the test. There were no mistakes; it was a clear round.” Bugatti, now eight, was bought as a four-year-old by Georgina who evented to 2* level. “I didn’t want to event any more, since having the children, so decided to do some dressage.” Georgina is trained by both Charlie Hutton and her husband Paul, winner of Badminton Horse Trials in 2010 and here to support his wife today. Looking forward, Georgina modestly says she wants to ‘learn how to dressage’. The talented pair, who recently made their Prix St Georges debut, look on course for an exciting future. Their 2019 NAF Five Star Winter Championships campaign isn’t over just yet as they return on Sunday for the Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze. Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze A former event horse took top honours this afternoon in the Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze Area Festival Championship. Laura Fisher and Sam The Man Veldhoek (by Oswin) were awarded a personal best score of 68.59% to win the class and take their 2019 championships tally to two; the multi-talented combination are fresh from victory in the Ideal Saddles Novice/90cm Combined Training Championships last month. “I’m so thrilled with him today,” enthused Laura after a celebratory glass of fizz. “All of the test felt good, and I was happy that we achieved all the tempi changes. He’s normally quite lazy but today he was really up for it and piaffed all the way to the arena! He really likes to be out.” Laura and Ozzie, as the gelding is known, enjoyed a successful eventing career competing up to 2* before he was forced to retire from the sport some three years ago due to navicular. Now 17, and with the help of trainer Debbie Jones, the Belgian-bred son of Oswin is flourishing in his second career. “Debbie has transformed us and helped to make the horse more confident,” said Laura. “She’s a judge also so she can help me from the judge’s perspective. I’ve trained with her since the end of last year. “When I was eventing I called it ‘stressage’ but I love it now,” added Laura. “Retiring from eventing was the turning point. At the time it was just doing what’s best for him so it’s exciting to have achieved what we have. He’s always done a good dressage test so in a way this was a natural progression.” North Wales based Laura, who works in Rural Development Marketing, is aiming towards Inter I with her ‘horse of a lifetime’. “I also have a few youngsters at home to bring up through the levels.” Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Winning the hearts of the audience and judges alike, Katharine Lewis and Jos K claimed the Medium Freestyle Gold in style with a brilliant score of 73.22%, and the biggest cheer of the day. The Friesian stallion by Tsjale 454 turned heads at the 2018 NAF Five Star Winter Championships with a runner up spot in the Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver class; this year the duo went one better with a thrilling freestyle programme that also delivered them a title at the inaugural BD Summer Music Championships last year. Their test today showed all Jos’s talent for the future, with a huge extended canter a clear highlight. Speaking about her first Winter title Katharine said, “I’m absolutely thrilled with him, I’m so lucky to own him! I’ve had him since he was rising four, he’s been consistently qualifying for championships and he’s gone on to win at the Summer Music Championships and the Regional Championships. He’s just so consistent, and he’s growing in strength and confidence all the time.” Katharine presented her winning test to custom music produced by Gaynor Colburn, “It’s actually from a West End musical Gaynor wrote called Fire of London, she’s played it to his paces and it’s really dramatic.” “You just can’t get bored of riding him!” Katharine enthused about her star stallion, found at a riding school as a young horse, “Friesians aren’t common and it’s really tough in the Gold section, so to not only hold his own but win is amazing. He just goes into the arena and he knows, you can just ride and know he’ll give his all.” Katharine recently began training with Nicky Barrett and has enjoyed the progress and clearly reaped the rewards. “She’s really opened my mind and it’s going really well, she’s helped us and we’ve won today which is fantastic.” With Nicky’s help Katherine plans to take it slowly and sympathetically, and continue to train Jos through the levels. With only one and a half marks between first and second, It was a close battle between Katharine and local rival Alice Oppenheimer, repeating their Spillers title duel from Merrist Wood’s Winter Regional Championships in February. On both occasions, Regional runner up Alice had to settle for second with her outstanding mare Headmore Bella Ruby. Today the duo danced to an emotive Les Miserables soundtrack to earn 72.83%. Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver In Suregrow’s first year of Elementary Freestyle Silver sponsorship, the UK’s leading fertiliser company were treated to a class of outstanding quality. Stealing the win by a comfortable margin was Wendy Hudson with her own 10 year old mare, Hawtins Chanel (by Curator). The duo scored 72.24% to top the podium ahead of Florence Human and Lynn Perry who completed the top three. Victory smelled sweet for Wendy whose debut NAF Five Star Winter Championships was without a success, despite a challenging build up: “She had a week off just before we were supposed to be here, it was touch and go whether we would make it but we did and that’s the main thing! She’s not been the easiest but her personality and ability at shows is fantastic. She settles and behaves – bringing her to an occasion like this is great. She can be a bit of an introvert but she’s a very good girl.” “I was really pleased with how in tune we were with the music today, everything happened when it should and where it should,” Wendy added about her test, “Let’s call it a safe and accurate round, but I just loved the atmosphere in there. I came out and said to my friends I don’t care what the score is, whatever happens I had the best time ever and all I want to do is go back in there and ride again!” Finance Director and volunteer Treasurer for Newbury RDA Wendy will aim Chanel for the Petplan Equine Medium Area Festivals this season with the ultimate goal of riding in a top hat and tails o board her talented British bred mare bought from Judith Davis as a young horse. Commendations go to Sophie Watkins, who was unfortunately interrupted by a fire alarm mid-way through her test. On board her lovely mare Inca Spirit Sophie restarted her test to score 68.33%, well done Sophie. Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver Bringing day one in the Petplan Equine arenas to a close, Ella-Louise Mayhead and Tirclyn Sportsman clinched the Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver with a super score of 67.06% to top the 18 strong class. Ella-Louise and ‘Sporty’ placed second at their Area Festival Final at Beacons EC and went one better today as they impressed the judges panel – Linda Whetstone, Richard Baldwin and Felicity Scott. “This horse is so dear to me and I just wasn’t expecting a win today at all,” Proud owner/rider Ella Louise enthused following her prize giving, “We’ve not had the best preparation, you see people getting ready – their horses are having last minute massages and lessons and test practice – we’ve not ridden through the test since October! He’s been off work and a month ago I really didn’t think we’d be here. But he’s just come good, he’s a total star and I had the best ride I’ve ever had on his today.” Sporty was recently diagnosed with EMS which triggered a bout of laminitis back in October, an ongoing problem that Ella-Louise has worked hard to control. “Laminitis is one of those things you worry about every step, it’s always in your mind. We’ve been training the PSG movements for only two weeks, he’s really pulled it out of the bag!” “I came out of my test todayand thought ‘I’m really pleased with that’, it was just brilliant!” The gorgeous 14.3hh Welsh Section D cob was originally discovered as a rising four year old by Ella-Louise’s sister-in-law who bought him for very little money after he caught her eye in a Brightwells sale in Wales. “She fell off him quite early on and promptly said ‘here you have him’… I never game him back! We realised he was special, not just his temperament but his movement too. We’ve kept him and enjoyed him as a family.” In his successful career, Sporty has also won a national title with a pupil of Ella-Louise’s and enjoyed a trip to the Winter Championships in 2017 finishing seventh in the Advanced Medium Silver class. Ella-Louise herself balances riding with coaching and working as a civilian for the City of London Police where she runs their mounted branch; “It’s a full time job, they’re very supportive and it works well. It’s a horsey job but it so far away from anything else horsey!” For full results - click here      

Bolesworth International Opens Its Doors to Riders

 

The new British Eventing website has now been in place since the middle of February with further development and improvements being made.

Championships organiser Show Direct is making the final preparations at Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire in readiness for the NAF Five Star Winter Championships (3 – 7 April 2019) which gets underway tomorrow morning. This five-day event – the finale to the winter dressage season - is without doubt the largest and most diverse event of the BD year. Nowhere else will you find so many of the UK’s top professionals, up-and-coming names and competitive amateurs competing all under one roof. From Wednesday to Sunday, we’ll welcome more than 1,000 horse and rider combinations at the popular venue which is set amongst glorious Gloucestershire countryside at Hartpury University and College. There are a total of 39 titles for the taking, including Freestyles, plus the deciding rounds of the 2018/2019 Petplan Equine Area Festival series. British breeding is making waves in the sport and this is no truer than here at Hartpury. An incredible 10 horses from the Headmore Stud in Hampshire are qualified, the small stud represented by Headmore prefixed horses at every level from Prelim to Inter I. Hawtins Stud has a strong presence also, with a number of horses qualified. Included are Hawtins Sandori who will contest the Blue Chip Novice Gold with stud rider Gijs Van Vooren, a young man making his first championship appearance on UK soil; Bryony Goodwin and Hawtins Soave who’ve received a wild card for the TheraPlate UK Medium Gold; and Paul Friday and Hawtins Horatio who contest the Magic Prix St Georges Gold. Once again, we’re lucky to have an Olympic, World and European gold medallist in our midst at Hartpury as Charlotte Dujardin is here with two of her young rides. Charlotte can be seen with her own five-year-old MSJ Charmer who contests the Blue Chip Novice Gold Friday morning. Then fresh from a triple Small Tour victory at last month’s Keysoe CDI3*, Charlotte and Mount St John VIP contest the Magic PSG on Thursday and the Superflex Inter I Gold on Friday, classes which both qualify for a respective Freestyle during the Friday and Saturday evening Gala Performances. Charlotte will also be there wearing her owner’s hat, with River Rise Isabella in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold under Robert Barker, and the pony Cruz III in the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold partnered by Jayne Turney. Gala Performances Join us on Friday and Saturday (5 – 6 April) for our ticket-only Gala Performances for two show stopping nights where we’ll crown this year’s Magic Prix St Georges and Superflex Intermediate I Freestyle Champions. Witnessing these headline classes, which feature many of the UK’s best Small Tour combinations dancing to music in the atmospheric Hartpury Arena, is an opportunity not to be missed. In addition to top class competition, this year we’re delighted to welcome Adam Kemp and Matt Frost who will host a 30 minute Master Class during each evening performance. You can expect an educational and entertaining episode with two of Britain’s best as they talk about and demonstrate training from the horse’s perspective - that understanding how the horse sees the world is as important at Grand Prix as it is with the very early stages of introducing the horse to ridden work. Friday investigates ‘what’s it like to be a young horse’, Saturday investigates ‘what’s it like to be a Grand Prix horse’. During the competition interludes, two fabulous display teams will both be making their NAF Five Star Winter Championships debut - the Shetland Performance Display Team with their display of speed, daring and versatility, and Galloping Acrobatics who specialise in flamboyant equestrian vaulting giving an insight into the amazing world of equestrian performance art. The competition, Master Class and displays combined provide all the ingredients and more for a fantastic evening’s entertainment. Entry is free during the day and with three arenas running from around 8am to 6pm, and a wealth of shopping, there’s much to see and do. If you can’t make it to Hartpury, you won’t have to miss any of the action from the NAF Five Star Arena as thanks to support from LeMieux we’re able to provide a live stream of all the daytime indoor classes. Plus the feature gala evening classes, though not live, will be recorded and available to view after the show from Sunday evening. Please visit the BD Championships website for all the info on the NAF Five Star Championships – news, full timetable, results, tradestands, location and of course, the live stream! Plus, you’ll be able to download rider interviews using our audio service from Cre8media. BD has a trade stand in the NAF Five Star Arena, so do drop by to see us, and the communications and marketing team will also be out and about providing stories and quotes plus lots of coverage on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram (@british_dressage). New for Hartpury visitors this year is the chance to feed back about our communications. You might have heard about our regional roadshow, which comes to a close next week with one final open session in the classrooms above the Hartpury Arena. We always want to improve how we communicate with you, so if you've any views on our magazine, newsletters, website or social media, come along and have your say on Sunday 7 April at 1.30pm. The annual Members’ Meeting returns, taking place on Thursday evening (4 April) in lecture theatre MDC05 in the main Hartpury campus, just a short walk from Hartpury Arena, starting 15 minutes after the last prize-giving which should be about 6.30pm. Members of the Board and the senior management team will be available to chat and talk through your questions. Event website Start times and results Live stream

Hickstead?s most iconic class has secure future thanks to Al Shira?aa

Amanda Derbyshire wins the Overall Leading Lady Rider at WEF

BRITISH SHOWJUMPING SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

Bicton Arena is the place to head with all the family on Easter Sunday where horses, Easter eggs, Tractor Ted and a family dog show are some of the attractions.

Buy a ticket for one of the UK’s most popular equestrian events - SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials (19-22 September) – and have the chance to win a brand-new Ifor Williams trailer, stuffed full of goodies.

Yet again the Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials has attracted the highest level of competitors from around the world.

Buy your tickets now at the early bird rate to the ultimate Cotswolds equestrian event, the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, held at Gatcombe Park the home of HRH The Princess Royal, 2 – 4 August 2019. 

Scott Brash takes second place in the CSI3* Grand Prix in Gorla Minore

More outbreaks of Equine Flu reported; majority in unvaccinated horses; BEF urges owners to check vaccination records are up to date

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain next week at Deauville CPEDI3* in France (4 – 7 April 2019). Grade II Natasha Adkinson from Haxey, North Lincolnshire, with her own Sweet Caledonia  - pictured - (black mare, 11yrs, s. San Remo ds. Fürst Heinrich). Suzanna Hext from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, with Henrietta Cheetham’s LJT Enggaards Solitaire (dark bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Blue Hors Soprano). Lee Pearson from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire with Julie Daly’s B Grandeur (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Grannex ds. Ilmeo). Georgia Wilson form Abergele, Conwy with her own Chico III (dark bay gelding, 15yrs, s. Chico’s Boy ds. Calypso II). Grade IV Heather Bennett from Goole, Humberside with Elizabeth Haigh’s Guinevere Aimbry (chestnut mare, 8yrs, s. Totilas). Nicky Greenhill from Elstead, Surrey with her own and Gary Greenhill’s Betty Boo (black mare, 10yrs, s. Benetton Dream ds. Londonderry) and Gary Greenhill’s King Edward I (black gelding, 11yrs, s. Calido I). Nicola Naylor from London with her own Donnatella H (chestnut mare, 11yrs, s. Status Quo ds. Clavecimbel) and her own  Ferrari SDB (black gelding, 9yrs, s. Wynton ds. Contango). Grade V Sophie Wells from Newark, Nottinghamshire with Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction (brown gelding, 12yrs, s. Fidertanz ds. Olivi) and her own Diadeem (bay mare, 11yrs, s. Westenwind). Event website Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship at Olympia, The London International Horse Show

The new British Eventing website has now been in place since the middle of February with further development and improvements being made.

Hello everyone

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Dr Elfie Monteith, owner, supporter and Event Doctor for events in the Midlands for over 30 years.

Once again the world’s leading riders including Zara Tindall, Oliver Townend, William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Nicola Wilson and Izzy Taylor will be competing at this highly popular event which takes place on Saturday and Sunday 6 and 7 April.

EEA Advises Employers to be Prepared

David Holmes has played an invaluable role and been a unifying force in equestrian sport

Top Stallions on Show at British Breeding Stallion Event

Exciting Plans Announced for the H F Sport Horses Bolesworth Young Horse Championship Show

Voltaire Design to celebrate three more years of sponsorship of the Under 25 British Championship

Exciting Plans Announced for the Bolesworth Young Horse Championship Show

Due to a power cut in the local area, the British Eventing Head office service is currently unavailable. 

A note from British Eventing Chair of the Board Fiona O'Hara.

British Eventing’s CEO, David Holmes, will be leaving British Eventing after nearly four years in post at the end of March 2019.  

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Clem Tompsett MBE, 80, land owner and organiser of Isleham Horse Trials for over 30 years.   

British Riding Clubs to reward their Members competing with British Showjumping

The 2019 BE80 (T) Coaching Forum will take place on 18 April with Marie Ryan and Linda de Matteo. The day counts as a Continual Professional Development (CPD) day for Pony Club and BHS Instructors. This day has been made possible using funding from Sport England, granted by the British Equestrian Federation.

The Organisers of Weston Park Horse Trials and Equine 74 Gastric are delighted to announce the new sponsors for the 2019 regional competition The Equine 74 Gastric Central North West BE80(T) Challenge.

The 2019 BE80 (T) Coaching Forum will take place on 18 April with Marie Ryan and Linda de Matteo. The day counts as a Continual Professional Development (CPD) day for Pony Club and BHS Instructors. This day has been made possible using funding from Sport England, granted by the British Equestrian Federation.

Graham Gillespie & Quantum KS - 2nd in Gorla Minore CSI 3* Grand Prix

Amy Inglis & George Tame give GB a Team Win in Paris

Amy Inglis & Georgia Tame give GB a Team Win in Paris

Academy Training Update

Fans of the sport of eventing can treat themselves to a front row seat with World Class Eventing Performance Manager Dickie Waygood and Olympic Event rider Gemma Tattersall at the stunning Belton International Horse Trials, Lincolnshire, on Sunday 31st March plus enjoy 25% off admission tickets when buying a minimum of two tickets.

Youth rider coach training is an opportunity for BE coaches to access targeted training for those wanting to be involved with the development of young riders or as to meet the pre-requisite requirements for a BD Youth Assessor Coach.

Fans given the opportunity to become part of #TEAMHOYS

Leading international equine acts set to perform at 'The Pageant', Windsor Castle, in commemoration of Queen Victoria's 200-year anniversary

The Pony classes at Keysoe CDI3* (15 – 17 March 2019) were well-attended by former representatives of the British team, all of whom had the same goal in mind: qualification and selection for this year’s FEI Pony European Championships. Leading the pack on Friday was 2018 team member Annabella Pidgley, who took a decisive 1-2 in the Team test, before claiming second place in both the Individual competition and the Freestyle aboard Cognac IX. Originally competed by Greece’s Theodora Livanos, the eleven-year-old gelding (FS Chambertin x Waldemar) made his debut with Pidgley last spring, when the new partnership took the Team test at Compiègne on their international debut. Pidgley’s second partner here, as at Compiègne, was her Europeans mount Ine, who took second in the Team test and seventh in the Individual. Pidgley has used the winter to solidify her partnership with Cognac, who looks set to be an enormously promising mount for the fourteen-year-old rider. “We’ve spent the winter working on his overall way of going,” explains Pidgley, who trains with Catherine Dufour. “It’s really showed and paid off; it all came together [at Keysoe], so I’m really happy. We did a test ride in January and got 76%, but we haven’t been out much over the winter. He’s super consistent and he really likes competing and being out – he just likes to show off!” Holly Kerslake made an impression throughout the weekend too, riding the 10-year-old stallion Valhallas Zorro (pictured). The pair, in its third season contesting the internationals together, took both the Pony Individual and Freestyle to Music, as well as finishing third in the Team test. For Kerslake, this is a fitting beginning to a poignant year: 2019 will be her last year riding her 2017 Europeans mount. “He’s been a really good boy – we had a really good start to the competition on Friday in the team test, when we got 69%. Yesterday, we got 71% - he was a really good boy. Today, he’s a little bit more tired, but he really tries – he always wants to try his best in the arena,” she says. Prime Squad members Charlotte McDowall and Alivia II (Olivi x Jazz) did the double in the Junior sections, winning both the Individual and Freestyle competitions. Gloucestershire-based McDowell took over the ride on the former Grand Prix mount of Julie Hugo-Ross in the latter part of 2018, and their early efforts have been impressive: they won their first two Advanced Mediums together in August of 2018 and have gone from strength to strength since, ordinarily taking the top spot at the level. Keysoe marks their first international as a partnership. Olivia Wrennall and her striking Hanoverian Disneyland took the win in the Junior Team test, finished second in the Individual, and gave the appreciative audience a treat with their suitably Disney-centric Freestyle, which earned them sixth place in this competitive class. Bon Jovi was arguably the star of the show, taking all three of the Young Rider classes with rider Rebecca Swain. The thirteen-year-old KWPN gelding by UB40 was originally piloted by Dutch Olympic rider Diederik Van Silfhout, and has been with his Surrey-based young rider for two seasons. Keysoe has been a happy hunting ground for the duo: they claimed the win in the Prix St Georges at December’s High Profile show at the venue. Nevertheless: “I didn’t really expect this,” a breathless Swain laughed after her final victory. “He felt super, really with me.” For eighteen-year-old Swain, the weekend’s successes are the culmination of a long and concentrated effort to get the best out of the horse. Remarkably, Swain managed all three of her fantastic results despite a nasty bout of tonsillitis that nearly saw her sit the show out. “He’s not been the easiest,” she admits with a smile. “But he has lots of variety – we do polework, we go on the gallops – and we’ve spent the winter working on his suppleness, so it seems to have paid off. I’m glad we came!” For full results click here Thanks to the team at Keysoe for providing quotes and detail Photo © Tilly Berendt

Toby Fry & Alice Weightman are victorious in the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classics at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre

 

The first international of 2019 on British soil has concluded after three days of high quality competition at Keysoe CDI3* in Bedfordshire (15 – 17 March 2019). Spearheading the large British contingent was Carl Hester with his Rio mount, Jane de la Mare's Nip Tuck (pictured), the gelding making a return to competition following a lengthy break. The large son of Don Ruto’s last appearance was at the 2017 FEI European Championships where he and Carl were British team anchors achieving three top-five placings and were just out of the medal zone in the Freestyle. Happy to be back in the limelight, Nip Tuck won Friday’s Equine Construction Grand Prix in superb style with a score of 74.45% ahead of Charlotte Dujardin and Erlentanz, who she’s competing whilst owner-rider Sonnar Murray-Brown recovers from a broken leg. Third position was claimed by West Sussex-based Dane, Anders Dahl, with his wife Fiona Bigwood’s Fidermark gelding, Fidelio Van Het Bloemenhof. With leading names from Great Britain, Ireland, Finland and Denmark on the start list, Saturday’s Equine Construction Grand Prix Freestyle promised to be a thriller, and it didn’t disappoint. Though the final scores were tight at the top, British stalwart Carl Hester managed to edge the win from teammate Charlotte Dujardin earning scores of 78.72% and 77.70% respectively. “Jane de la Mare and I, who own the horse together, thought he’d probably done the best he could ever do, so last year he had some time off. He’d done four major championships in a row,” says Hester. De la Mare has spent much of that time riding the KWPN gelding who, despite his reputation for spookiness in the ring, “just trots around the village and is as good as gold with her.” Here, Hester opted to bring Nip Tuck’s Rio music out of retirement, offering the full house of captivated fans the chance to see the remarkable floorplan in an intimate setting. Beginning with an exceptionally ambitious piaffe pirouette, the routine brought the very best of world-class sport to Bedfordshire, proving that Barney, as he’s known to friends and fans, is back – and feeling better than ever. “It’s been like riding a five-year-old the last few days,” laughs Hester. “Not like riding a fifteen-year-old at all! That’s why we brought him – because he absolutely loves doing this. He was so crafty out there; he knew what was coming at every movement. Every time I got somewhere, he was already there. I nearly got G-forced in the canter pirouettes, I was just flying round, because he knew he had to get around to do the ones! He’s such a smart old thing.” Now, Barney will represent Great Britain at its illustrious string of home internationals, including Windsor, Bolesworth, and Hartpury, allowing top mount Hawtins Delicato to fly the flag abroad and at championships. “You know, he’s been at the top of the game and now I just want him to enjoy himself,” says Hester. “I enjoy riding him because he’s just so go-y, but when we brought him back I said, I’ve got no expectations, I just want him to enjoy himself, do some national shows, and Jane can ride him a bit and chill him out.” While the top spot was claimed by an old friendship, second place was clinched by a fledgling relationship. Charlotte Dujardin took the ride on Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz just two weeks ago and while the temporary partnership is still in its earliest stages, it looks set to be an exciting one. “He’s been as good as gold – he is just SO cool to ride and he really makes me smile, because he just tries his heart out,” enthuses Dujardin who, as Murray-Brown’s trainer, has worked with both horse and rider extensively and was the obvious choice to take the reins when Murray-Brown suffered a broken leg recently. “He’s not got much experience – he’s only got one year at Grand Prix, so he didn’t want Erly to drop down,” Dujardin explains. “I helped him with the horse anyway, and I had ridden him a few times, but it’s one thing just popping on a few things and another going in there and doing that. But because I’ve trained him and ridden him a bit, that definitely helped me – I wouldn’t do that on a horse I didn’t know. I knew his strengths and his weaknesses already from Sonny, and so it made it easier to just get on. He’s an incredible horse and Sonny’s done a fantastic job at training him.” Dujardin and Erlentanz also finished second in Friday’s Grand Prix, earning 73.413%, and the class proved to be a useful learning curve in their relationship. “I overrode it, I was trying too hard, and I was so annoyed about the mistakes in the zig-zags and the ones because they were rider error,” she says. “I learnt from my mistake and for the freestyle, I knew not to override it. These are all the things I’ve got to get to know – how much I can push and can’t push. For me, he lacks a bit of confidence in there, so it’s just about getting him to open up and find that extra gear that he has out here.” For sidelined Murray-Brown, the experience is a great way to help find the relatively inexperienced horse’s extra gears in conjunction with his trainer. “He rings me all the time – he rang me and was like, ‘I get more nervous watching you than I do riding him! It’s such a pleasure to watch you ride him!’ So he’s really, really happy,” says Dujardin. In the Spillers and TRM-sponsored Small Tour divisions, it was a Dujardin domination with her winning the Prix St Georges, Inter I and Inter I Freestyle with Emma Blundell’s Mount St John VIP (Vivaldi x Donnerhall), the mare making her international debut at the age of eight. “I’ve had her since she was four – she’s owned by Emma Blundell from Mount St John. She’s pretty much won everything she’s done – she’s really, really exciting for the future” commented Dujardin following her third win of the fixture in the TRM Inter I Freestyle. “She’s amazing – she’s like a little Ferrari to ride, with loads of gears. You can see where she starts off, she’s very normal, but you pick her up and she turns into something really special. And she really does try. She really tries her best and she loves to work – she’s what you’d call a real worker.” Dominating the Spillers Prix St Georges on Friday, Charlotte and VIP were some five percent ahead of the field, with Anders Dahl (DEN) and Florina 146 (72.059%) and Jessica Dunn and Alicante Valley (70.471%) the only other combinations to top 70%. “I’ll keep her at Small Tour this year” added Charlotte, “and next year she’ll maybe do Grand Prix. She just takes everything in her stride; she really does have the natural ability to just kick into gear and do it. She’s so happy to do it and she wants to do it, so now we just need to tackle the green things. Like her changes – at home, when she’s relaxed, they’re much straighter, but when she’s hotter I need to do a bit of a hokey-cokey. But it’s just greenness and excitement. She’s still young and inexperienced; to be eight-years-old and doing this is pretty good.” Denmark’s Anders Dahl was ‘Mr Consistent’ at Keysoe, finishing on the podium with Florina 146 in the Spillers Prix St Georges and TRM Inter I, as well as the Equine Construction Grand Prix with, his wife Fiona Bigwood’s, Fidelio Van Het Bloemenhof. Florina 146 got to within two percent of Mount St John VIP, much to the delight of her rider. “I bought her a year and a half ago. She’s like a little princess – she doesn’t want to do anything wrong, which can cause problems as she can lose confidence, but she was so relaxed today. Every time she comes out of the stable she just settles a little bit more. At the national shows, you ride and then drive home so you never get to settle them in, but here she’s been able to settle in over a few days and it’s been a real growing up experience for her. Her extended trots, I think, are phenomenal. She just needs to relax that bit more in the ring.” Rebecca Swain (18), from Surrey, was unbeatable in the Young Rider classes with her athletic UB40 son Bon Jovi, a former ride of Dutch Olympic rider Diederik Van Silfhout. The partnership of two years is going from strength to strength and in recent months has had some notable Small Tour successes, including a 72.85% PSG victory at Keysoe High Profile last December. Here at the CDI, they achieved scores of 68.72%, 69.21% and 72.16% respectively to win the Team-Individual-Freestyle hat-trick. Keysoe owner and show director, Simon Bates, commented: “It has been a fabulous show and one that we are very proud of. The team have put in a phenomenal amount of work to make it happen and we’re glad that everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. The atmosphere in the indoor arena Saturday night was electric! A full house in the grandstand seating and the new hospitality area were treated to an incredible display by a truly world class field. We’d like to thank the riders for supporting the event and for providing such a high standard of sport. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, and adding our new Para International classes, in October.” Top-three results: Equine Construction Grand Prix 1st Carl Hester with Nip Tuck, 74.457% (GBR) 2nd Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 73.413% (GBR) 3rd Anders Dahl with Fidelio Van Het Bloemenhof, 72.978% (DEN) Equine Construction Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Carl Hester with Nip Tuck, 78.725% (GBR) 2nd Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 77.700% (GBR) 3rd Anders Dahl with Fidelio Van Het Bloemenhof, 74.000% (GBR) Equine Construction Grand Prix Consolation 1st Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 66.449% (GBR) 2nd Alex Hardwick with Royal Chester, 65.435% (GBR) Spillers Prix St Georges 1st Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John VIP, 76.941% (GBR) 2nd Anders Dahl with Florina 146, 72.059% (DEN) 3rd Jessica Dunn with Alicante Valley, 70.471% (GBR) TRM Intermediate I 1st Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John VIP, 73.765% (GBR) 2nd Anders Dahl with Florina 146, 71.206% (DEN) 3rd Katherine Bailey with Boccelli 6, 69.647% (GBR) TRM Intermediate I Freestyle 1st Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John VIP, 77.425% (GBR) 2nd Anders Dahl with Florina 146, 75.150% (DEN) 3rd Katherine Bailey with Boccelli 6, 71.500% (DEN) Devoucoux Young Rider Team Test 1st Rebecca Swain with Bon Jovi, 68.725% (GBR) 2nd Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 68.529% (GBR) 3rd Alexandra Hellings with Uvender V, 68.431% (GBR) Devoucoux Young Rider Individual Test 1st Rebecca Swain with Bon Jovi, 69.216% (GBR) 2nd Alice Campanella with Gracile D.E.S., 68.824% (ITA) 3rd Alexandra Hellings with Uvender V, 67.794% (GBR) Devoucoux Young Rider Freestyle 1st Rebecca Swain with Bon Jovi, 72.167% (GBR) 2nd Alexandra Hellings with Uvender V, 70.917% (GBR) 3rd Alice Campanella with Gracile D.E.S., 70.333% (ITA) Childéric Saddles Junior Team Test 1st Olivia Wrennall with Disneyland, 68.636% (GBR) 2nd Caitlin Burgess with Chocotof, 68.384% (GBR) 3rd Claire Hole with Winnetou G.E.P., 68.232% (GBR) Childéric Saddles Junior Individual Test 1st Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 69.902% (GBR) 2nd Olivia Wrennall with Disneyland, 68.137% (GBR) 3rd Claire Hole with Pro-Motion, 67.892% (GBR) Childéric Saddles Junior Freestyle 1st Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 73.375% (GBR) 2nd Avery Maude with Double Agent, 69.750% (GBR) 3rd Caitlin Burgess with Chocotof, 69.583% (GBR) Dodson & Horrell Pony Team Test 1st Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 71.857% (GBR) 2nd Annabella Pidgley with Ine, 70.381% (GBR) 3rd Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 69.190% (GBR) Dodson & Horrell Pony Individual Test 1st Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 71.216% (GBR) 2nd Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 70.766% (GBR) 3rd Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 67.477% (GBR) Dodson & Horrell Pony Freestyle 1st Holly Kerslake with Valhallas Zorro, 71.667% (GBR) 2nd Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX, 71.500% (GBR) 3rd Olivia Whitelaw with Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 69.875% (GBR) For full results click here Photo © Kevin Sparrow

Experience World Class Hospitality at The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show

To help you navigate the new website, we have created a selection of How To videos with a guide to some of the key processes on the site. If you have any questions or queries about the website, please get in touch with BE on 02476 698856 or email support@britisheventing.com

The Dutch Masters show returned to Den Bosch last week with a thrilling collection of classes playing out in one of Holland’s finest equestrian settings (14 – 17 March 2019). A tense final leg of the FEI World Cup Western European league qualifiers saw Europe’s best fighting for last minute points in the hope of grabbing a spot at April’s FEI World Cup Final, hosted in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 3 – 7 April. Britain’s Richard Davison and Gwen Meyer’s Bubblingh (Lingh x Picandt) have enjoyed a strong winter season, accumulating 33 points in the Western European League. In ‘s-Hertogenbosch their consistency showed with a superb 71.58% in the CDI-W Grand Prix test, allowing a comfortable qualification to the freestyle where they performed a strong routine for 75.20%. The standard in ‘s-Hertogenbosch was evident in Saturday’s freestyle with seven combinations topping the 80% barrier impressing the panel of Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA), Monique Peutz (NED), Mariette Sanders (NED), Stephen Clarke (GBR) and Henning Lehrmann (GER). The Dutch Masters show also provides a first-rate opportunity for the Under 25 Grand Prix riders to show on one of Europe’s biggest stages. Dutch-based British star Charlotte Fry continued her strong start to 2019 with two top placings on board the Van Olst’s stallion Everdale. In Friday’s short Grand Prix the duo took third with 69.27% and went on to produce a phenomenal Grand Prix Freestyle test resulting in 76.07% and first place. Results CDI-W Grand Prix 1st Isabell Werth with Emilio, 77.19% (GER) 13th Richard Davison with Bubblingh, 71.58% (GBR) CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Zack, 84.89% (DEN) 12th Richard Davison with Bubblingh, 75.20% (GBR) CDIU25 Short Grand Prix 1st Thalia Rockx with Verdi de la Fazenda, 70.85% (NED) 3rd Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 69.27% (GBR) CDIU25 Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 76.07% (GBR) For full results click here . To view the standings of the FEI World Cup Western European League click here .

For the second consecutive year the Ideal Saddles Combined Training Championships returned to Fieldhouse EC, Staffordshire, to conclude an exciting 2018/19 dual discipline series with a final of outstanding quality both inside the white boards and over the coloured poles (17 March 2019). Sara-Jane Lanning enjoyed a spectacular Sunday with her two qualified rides Dreamcatcher III and Try Me Once, but it was the 18 year old Connemara x Irish Draught mare Dreamcatcher III (pictured) who exceeded all expectations to take home not one, but two Ideal Saddles Combined Training titles. Scoring 79.14% in Prelim 2, Sara-Jane and Tina-Marie Nethercliffe’s ‘Gracie’ went on to produce a faultless round in the 70cm jumping section to claim the first title of the day by an astonishing four percent. Second place in this class belonged to young rider Sophia Marston with Solitaire, whilst Kirsten Darbyson and Rogaire Rua took third. In the Novice and 90cm class, another polished dressage performance for 77.50% from Sara Jane gave a healthy lead before the jumping round; the duo had a pole and an unlucky time fault this time but with points already in hand the win was all but sealed. Sara-Jane’s former Grand Prix horse Try Me Once showed his multi-talented side for second, and Helen Dutton claimed third spot with Rowangarth Rhydian, their flawless jumping round a sure highlight. Moving up to the Novice ranks, Laura Fisher made the journey from North Wales more than worthwhile with a victory in the Novice 24 and 90cm class. On board her own Sam The Man Veldhoek, Laura posted a final score of 76.30% following a superb test and clear jumping round to earn the winners spoils. Next up for Laura and ‘Ozzie’ is a trip to the Winter Championships at Hartpury to contest the Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships at Prix St Georges level – who said dressage horses can’t jump! In the final class of the day, Ellis Morton and Elsinore ELS showed their class to earn a win in the Novice 34 and 100cm Championship. After taking an early lead with 70.34%, the duo held their nerve to produce a clear jumping round in the Fieldhouse indoor arena. Chester-based Ellis has enjoyed both successful dressage and eventing careers to date with trips to the Mitsubishi Motors Cup as well as the British Dressage Regional and National Championships up to Novice level. Click here to take a look at her prize giving and lap of honour, if there were prizes for this she would’ve scooped up that accolade too. Derbyshire rider and Equine vet/dental technician Heather Urquhart placed just half a mark behind Ellis in second with her own eye-catching blue and white Crafty Wizard, whilst Kimberley Marshall and her lovely British-bred mare D Akieda claimed the final podium spot in third. British Dressage thanks the team at The Ideal Saddle Company for their generous support of this wonderful series. Competitors were treated to amazing prizes as well as the opportunity to take a look at the Ideal range, a collection of outstanding saddles, girths and leathers for all types of horse and rider. To find out more about the Ideal range click here . Thanks go to the team at Fieldhouse EC for another great championship event, congratulations to all competitors who travelled to Staffordshire to take part with a special well done going to our three champions. Champions Prelim 2 and 70cm Sara-Jane Lanning with Dreamcatcher III, 79.14% Prelim 18 and 80cm Sara-Jane Lanning with Dreamcatcher III, 75.19% Novice 24 and 90cm Laura Fisher with Sam the Man Veldhoek, 76.30% Novice 34 and 100cm Ellis Morton with Elsinore ELS, 70.24% For full results click here .

Laura Renwick & Will Fletcher make GB's presence felt in Portugal

Bolesworth 2019 Elite Auctions

Holly Smith & Hearts Destiny win Large Tour Grand Prix in Spain

It?s Ladies Night as Amanda Derbyshire and Roulette BH Top All-Female Jump-Off in $134,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

Due to further unforecasted overnight rain all competition at Pontispool (1) on Sunday 17th March has been abandoned.

 

Tomorrow (Saturday 16th March) sees the Stallion Event taking place at Addington Manor in Buckinghamshire. The showcase of some of the very best sporthorse stallions standing in the UK is organised by British Breeding and supported by Baileys Horse Feeds and Competition Stallions. There are too many stallions attending to preview each here but some […]

Results of the British riders who competed last week at Doha CDI5*/CPEDI3* in Qatar (7 – 9 March 2019). CDI5* Grand Prix 1st Minna Telde with Isac, 71.543% (SWE) 14th Hayley Watson-Greaves with Rubins Nite, 67.870% (GBR) - pictured in 2018 CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Borja Carrascosa with Ein Traum 2, 75.375% (ESP) 7th Hayley Watson-Greaves with Rubins Nite, 72.600% (GBR) CPEDI3* Grade II Team Test 1st Julie Payne with Pandora, 67.783% (GBR) Grade II Individual Test 1st Julie Payne with Pandora, 69.853% (GBR) Grade II Freestyle 1st Nicole den Dulk with Wallace N.O.P., 73.500% (NED) 2nd Julie Payne with Pandora, 70.000% (GBR) Grade III Team Test 1st Annemarieke Roling-Noble with Doo Schufro, 68.235% (NED) 4th Amanda Shirtcliffe with Remi, 66.275% (GBR) Grade III Individual Test 1st Annemarieke Roling –Noble with Doo Schufro, 68.775% (NED) 5th Amanda Shirtcliffe with Remi, 65.000% (GBR) Grade III Freestyle 1st Roberta Sheffield with Fairuza, 70.167% (CAN) 2nd Amanda Shirtcliffe with Remi, 69.834% (GBR) Full results Photo © Jon Stroud

Two weeks until the 2019 Spring Championships at Addington Manor

Two weeks until the 2019 Spring Championships at Addington Equestrian

 

 

Tomorrow marks the start of the first international dressage competition of the year on British soil as over 70 competitors from nine countries head to Bedfordshire’s premier venue, Keysoe for three days (15 – 17 March) of action over senior, young rider, junior and pony classes in the CDI3*, all supported by Childéric, Spillers, Equine Construction, TRM, Dodson & Horrell, Devoucoux and Keysoe Boutique. Leading the British charge is Carl Hester who brings his own and Jane de la Mare’s Nip Tuck, or Barney, who’s back in action after a break since the 2017 European Championships. Also travelling from the yard is Charlotte Dujardin with catch ride Erlentanz, who she’s riding for owner and normal jockey Sonnar Murray-Brown while his broken leg mends. She also has Mount St John VIP in the small tour ranks; a great warm up ahead of the NAF Five Star Winter Championships where the Vivaldi-sired mare has qualified for both NAF classes, the PSG and Inter I. Heath Farm in Oxfordshire also has two riders bound for Keysoe; Emile Faurie brings his newest star Café’s Caletta for a first CDI run on home turf while his stable jockey Tom Goode is making his big tour CDI debut with Samantha Geddes’ Vivaldi-sired Dior. British team rider Gareth Hughes will be looking to resume his 2018 form with Anne Keen’s Don Carissimo when they won both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at the May CDI3* in Aachen. Also flying the Union Flag in the Big Tour will be Henriette Andersen (Flavio), Liz Diegutis (Saskia Hit), Maria Eilberg (Royal Concert), Sara Gallop (Bandreo), Alex Hardwick (Royal Chester), Emma Hindle (Romy del Sol), Georgina Stokes (Talented Mr Ripley) and Vicky Thompson Winfield (Artist). Small Tour riders include: Katie Bailey (Boccelli 6), Nikki Barker (Durable), Henry Boswell (Folt), Katrina Cantrell (Woodlander Donna Summer), Kate Cowell (Dramatic Conquest), Louise Davison (De Galles), Jess Dunn (Alicante Valley), Paul Friday (Roman Noir Himself), Nathalie Kayal (Cleverboy), Kate Lister (World Exclusive), Sarah Turner (Eduardo) and Sarah Williams (Bohigas W). They join riders from Australia, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland and Portugal. Our selected Young Riders are: Rebecca Bell (Nibley Union Hit), Isobel Berrington (Bing), Angus Corrie-Deane (Tiny Tempur), Charlotte Dicker (Sabatini & Salomon Z), Jade Ellery (Porsche’s Eloy), Alex Hellings (Uvender V), Megan Ingham (Wanadoo), Thea Millward (Walentino 77) and Rebecca Swain (Bon Jovi). The Juniors include: Megan Assouline (Botero), Catlin Burgess (Chocotof), Charlie Grieve (Fedor van het Booienhoof), Clare Hole (Pro-Motion & Winnetou GEP), Jessie Kirby (Belle Amie), Juliette Lindsay (Prince May the First), Avery Maude (Double Agent), Charlotte McDowall (Alivia), Amelia Moncrieff (Billionaire), Chloe Naylor (Karisma), Charlotte Snape (Camelot III) and Olivia Wrennall (Disneyland). Finally, our Pony contingent is: Bonneville Bourne (Fin C We), Lavinia Johnson (Dublin), Holly Kerslake (Valhallas Zorro), Annabella Pidgley (Cognac IX & Ine), Steffi Thomlinson (Vavassa), Hermione Tottman (Brasil), Olivia Whitelaw (Brouwershavens’s Viceroy) and Mollie Witham (DZL Royal Sunrise). Timetable Friday 08:00 Young Rider Team Test 10:30 Junior Team Test 12:30 Pony Team Test 15:00 Prix St Georges 18:30 Grand Prix Saturday 08:00 Junior Individual Test 10:30 Pony Individual Test 12:30 Young Rider Individual Test 15:00 Intermediate I 18:30 Grand Prix Consolation 19:00 Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday 08:30 Pony Freestyle 10:30 Intermediate Freestyle 13:30 Junior Freestyle 16:30 Young Rider Freestyle Spectator tickets are available online at £12 each or you can purchase hospitality tables of eight at just £20 per person which include tea and coffee throughout the day and evening wine and nibbles. Click here to book . Not able to watch the action in person? Don't worry, the show will be covered by British Equestrian Sport TV .  Keep up to date with results here.  

British Showjumping?s Team NAF Youth Squads announced for Opglabbeek Nations Cups

British Showjumping?s Team LeMieux Pony Squad announced for Opglabbeek Nations Cup

Weston Park Horse Trials are delighted to welcome IEC Equine Solutions as a key sponsor on the 6th and 7th April 2019 sponsoring the IEC Equine Solutions Open Intermediate section running on Sunday.

The next Ask BE surgery is taking place this weekend at the Cooke Coachbuilders Stafford (1) Horse Trials on Saturday 16 March.

Whilst the first two weekends of competition in the 2019 season have run with much less impact from the British weather than in 2018, we wanted to share some important information with members on the process that BE undertakes when it comes to event abandonments.

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain at Randbøl CPEDI3* held at the Blue Hors Stud in Denmark. Grade II Suzanna Hext from Cirencester, Gloucestershire with Henrietta Cheetham’s LJT Enggaards Solitaire (dark bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Blue Hors Soprano) - pictured. Georgia Wilson from Abergele, Conwy with her own Midnight (brown mare, 10yrs, s. Hilkens Black Delight ds. Cassander). Grade III Erin Orford from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire with Annabel Whittet’s Dior (chestnut mare, 16yrs, s. Dimaggio ds. Hitchcock). Grade IV Nicky Greenhill from Elstead, Surrey with her own and Gary Greenhill’s Betty Boo (black mare, 10yrs, s. Benetton Dream ds. Londonderry). Grade V Charlotte Cundall from Molton, North Yorkshire with Henrietta Cheetham’s LJT Simply Red (liver chestnut gelding, 10ys, s. Sixten Langholt). Sophie Wells MBE from Newark, Nottinghamshire with Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction (dark brown gelding, 12yrs, s. Fidertanz, ds. Olivi). Event website

Liverpool International Horse Show Donate to Tim Stockdale Foundation

 

The first Premier League Show of 2019 has reached its conclusion after five days of competition at Myerscough College in Lancashire (6 – 10 March 2019). Several younger riders were on winning form and Charlotte Dujardin was the convincing winner of the Grand Prix aboard a catch ride. Lucy Pincus (22) enjoyed a highly successful show with Sheepcote Fiesta (pictured), her father David’s 13-year-old Fürst Heinrich-sired mare. On Saturday they scored 67.32% to win the Cavalor Intermediate II, a class which turned out to be quite a Pincus family domination. Thanks to the efforts of Lucy and her mother Serena, the family and their home-bred horses took four of the top five places with Lucy also fourth on Sheepcote Doncalisto (by Don Schufro), and Serena third and fifth respectively with Sheepcote Fantasia and Sheepcote Corelator. The only rider to squeeze between them was Becky Moody who claimed the runner-up position, close behind the winner, with Jo Cooper’s talented 10-year-old Eureko (by Uphill). Lucy, from Herefordshire, has partnered Sheepcote Fiesta through the ranks from a novice in 2012 to the budding Grand Prix horse that she is now. They made their international debut at Hickstead last July where they were well placed in the CDIu25 ranks, as was Lucy with her other top ride, Sheepcote Doncalisto. “I am so over the moon with how our first big show and the first Premier League of 2019 went!” said Lucy on Lucy Pincus Dressage following Saturday’s win. “Sheepcote Fiesta and I won the Inter II! And Sheepcote Doncalisto came fourth. Well done to my mum, third with Sheepcote Fantasia and fifth with Sheepcote Corelator. Four Sheepcote Equestrian horses in the top five!” Adding to the haul, Lucy and Sheepcote Fiesta went on to also take Sunday’s U25 Grand Prix with a score just shy of 70% - a clear five percent lead and the unanimous winners for judges Helen Bradley at M, Jennie Loriston-Clarke at E and Switzerland’s Hans Voser at C. Another young rider from Herefordshire, Olivia Towers, rose to the fore winning both Saturday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and the Prix St Georges Freestyle, both with scores of 69%-plus. Her winning partner Mercian Calisso (by Timeless) – a 12-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Elizabeth Towers and known as ‘Wilfred’ – has been produced by Olivia for the past seven years. Olivia took to Facebook to say; “I don't think it is much of a secret how this day went! Wilfred was up first in the PSG and after a shaky warm-up (due to me more than Wilf!) we went in and had a fault-free test with some lovely canter pirouettes! He scored an impressive 69.5% and ...... ended up winning! "Myerscough has always been one of my favourite shows for how much effort they put in and also how much effort they make in the prize giving. So I am glad this was where Wilfred and I shared our first lap of honour.” Thursday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges belonged to Nicola Mahoney with Charlotte Dunkerton’s 14-year-old Dimaggio son, Diablo VIII. This combination, who won at Addington High Profile in January, achieved the second highest score of the show with a PB of 74.34%. On Sunday, Charlotte Dujardin was pure class winning the competitive LeMieux Grand Prix with the 12-year-old Trakehner gelding Erlentanz (by Latimer) by scoring 77.57%. Erlentanz is familiar to many as the ride of World Class Podium Potential rider Sonnar Murray-Brown but Charlotte has temporarily been handed the reins by owner-rider Sonnar as he recovers from a broken leg. Second place belonged to Becky Moody and 12-year-old Carinsio (Painted Black x Beaujolais) who has made a recent return to competition following time out with a minor injury. The gelding who Becky co-owns with Julie Lockey achieved a very pleasing score of 71.20% for second with Matt Frost and Tribiani making up the top three. British Dressage thanks all the class sponsors as well as the team at Myerscough for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below, and to all those who took part. Wednesday 6 March Class 1: Medium 75 Laura Rowe with Showstar, 70.07% Class 2: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Rebecca Hughes with Tantoni Dallaglio, 71.49% Class 3: Advanced 102 Sarah Higgins with Elixer, 67.72% Class 4: Equine Construction Advanced Medium 92 Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 70.95% Thursday 7 March Class 5: Equine Construction Advanced Medium 96 Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 70.18% Class 6: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Nicola Mahoney with Diablo VIII, 74.34% Class 7: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Becky Moody with Full Fusion BS, 71.14% Class 8: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse – six year olds Rebecca Jackson with Heli Friday 8 March Class 9: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Olivia Towers with Mercian Calisso, 69.04% Class 10: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Abigail Hutton with Farrell, 71.49% Class 11: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse – four year olds Jessica Dunn with MSJ Furstin Florida Saturday 9 March Class 12: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse – five year olds Matt Frost with G Star Class 13: Cavalor Intermediate II Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Fiesta, 67.32% Class 14: Pony Individual Test Lavinia Johnson with Dublin, 68.74% Class 15: Prix St Georges Freestyle Olivia Towers with Mercian Calisso, 69.54% Class 16: Intermediate I Freestyle Jessica Dunn with LG Alicante Valley, 69.46% Class 17: Grand Prix Freestyle Matt Frost with Tribiani, 72.42% Sunday 10 March Class 18: Under-25 Grand Prix Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Fiesta, 69.77% Class 19: Pony Team Test Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 68.85% Class 20: LeMieux Grand Prix Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 77.57% For full results click here Photo © Karen Chaplin

 

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at ‘s-Hertogenbosch CDI-W/CDI3*/CDIU25 in the Netherlands (14 - 17 March 2019). CDI-W - FEI Dressage World Cup™ Qualifier Richard Davison from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire with Gwendolyn Sontheim’s Bubblingh (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Lingh ds. Picandt) - pictured CDI3* - Small Tour Charlotte Fry from North Yorkshire but based in the Netherlands, with Anne Van Olst’s Glamourdale (black stallion, 8yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale ds. Negro). CDIU25 – U25 Grand Prix Charlotte Fry with Anne Van Olst’s Everdale (black stallion, 10yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale ds. Negro). Event website

Bolesworth International Spring Saver Ticket Offer

Dodson & Horrell continue sponsorship of National Amateur & Veteran Championships for three further years

2nd place finish in the Dortmund CSI4* Grand Prix for Robert Whitaker & Catwalk IV

Douglas Duffin & Quidam finish 2nd in Vilamoura Grand Prix

 

Due to heavy overnight rain all competition on Sunday 10th March at Oasby (1) has been abandoned

British Dressage is proud to release a pioneering new pathway for BD Youth Assessors and Coaches and brand new training to accompany this. Providing targeted training for those wanting to be involved with the development of young riders, it primarily aids those wishing to meet the prerequisite requirements to become a combined BD Youth Assessor Coach (able to both coach and assess). What are the benefits of Youth Assessor and Youth Coach training? You’ll get further development of your coaching remit, it will widen your ability to work with a variety of riders and it will help you to develop your ability to adapt your coaching style as necessary. There are two streams: Coaching Young People focuses on the specialist nature of working with young people and the different approaches that may be required to aid their progression and development. It covers areas such as; effectively communicating with young people, key stages of physical and cognitive development, assessing rider biomechanics and improving alignment, and delivering engaging sessions for young people. Youth Rider Skills Test Assessor covers the BD Youth pathway, Youth Squads and Rider Skills Tests. In order to standardise the assessment of young riders, the training includes observation of recorded tests and the review of score sheets. This training also incorporates aspects of rider alignment and biomechanical analysis, as well as how to appropriately and effectively feed back to young riders. Training days The content for Coaching Young People is covered in one full day’s training, from 10am-4.30pm. Youth Rider Skills Test training will also be covered in one day, from 10am to 4pm. Training days are run in each region around the country, from the beginning of April onwards - to find out when the next courses are running and to register for a training event near you, click here . Having completed the training, you’ll receive a certificate of attendance from BD. For those interested in becoming a certified BD Youth Assessor Coach, attendance at both Coach and Assessor training days will need to be evidenced, along with proof that you meet the prerequisites and hold current compliance documentation. Already a BD Youth Coach? You have until December 2020 to take the Coaching Young People training. To become a BD Youth Assessor Coach, you’ll need to take the Youth Rider Skills Test Assessor training. Already a BD Youth Assessor? As part of this pathway, current BD Youth Assessors have the opportunity to become a BD Youth Assessor Coach, subject to holding the relevant coaching qualifications. You have until December 2020 to take the Youth Rider Skills Test Assessor training. To become a BD Youth Assessor Coach you’ll need to take the Coaching Young People training. To find out more, including information regarding the application criteria and prerequisites, please contact BD Youth Development Coordinator Hannah James on 02477 0887801 or email hannah.james@britishdressage.co.uk .

8th March - BEF Advice re Equine Flu

BEF strongly recommends shows check passports of attending horses; BEF reissues advice to owners on how to tackle the spread of equine flu

 

 

Competition Schedule Announced for The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show

Emma Wall from Lancashire is March?s NAF Shining Star

The BEF is joining influential members of the equine industry, experts and government to debate pertinent topical issues at the NEF.

Within the past few days British Showjumping have completed on the purchase of Home Farm, Hothorpe in Leicestershire with the plans for it to become t...

The latest survey from the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has revealed an increase in horse riding over the past five years.

 

 

The 2019 BD Premier League season kicked off in style today with our opening leg at Lancashire’s Myerscough College in their impressive International Arena. Running through to Sunday 10 March, the show is the prime opportunity to catch some of the sport’s budding combinations kicking their summer qualification off alongside some established names with their young horses and regular campaigners alike. With classes from Medium to Grand Prix, including an u25 GP and FEI Pony tests, there’s something for all dressage enthusiasts. The show also is the start of our ever popular search for a star series, the Shearwater BD Young Horse Championships with classes for four, five and six year olds. Myerscough is the first of 19 qualifiers running through to June – one to follow through the coming months. Top names like Becky Moody, who had a great Regional Championships at Myerscough just a matter of weeks ago, European, World and Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Wells, Matt Frost, Dan Greenwood, Matt Hicks and Rebecca Hughes all feature among the entries – be assured there will be plenty of top riding talent on show. Saturday night is Gala Night where visitors can watch Freestyle classes at PSG, Inter I and Grand Prix so get your ticket – they’re just £5 – to watch all the music action. Call 01995 642115 to order by phone, or you can buy on line via Horse Monkey. Spectating is free at all other times and there’s a great café on site should you require refreshments. Start times are available by clicking here .  

Headmore Stud enjoyed an outstanding week at the hotly contested final winter regionals of the year at Wellington Riding, Hants, (26-February – 2 March) which proved popular with substantial entries and high scoring winners. Following their success at Merrist Wood’s regionals, Alice Oppenheimer got the Headmore team off to a flying start with a talented trio of home-breds winning the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold on 78.59% with her stunning seven-year-old liver chesnut mare Headmore Bella Ruby (by Belissimo M). Riding to a musical theme from Les Miserables, compiled by Sara Green, they scored 9s for choreography and music earning them a personal best at this level. “’Princess Bella’ felt amazing; supple and very rideable, I came out of the arena buzzing,” said Alice. “She’s quite a hot horse, a real alpha mare, but we have a good rapport and a great relationship and together it felt like we could really go for it on the day.” This combination also finished a close second (by 2.5 marks) just behind Calum Whitworth and seven-year-old 16.1hh gelding Hennessy T (by Vivaldi) who took the title with 74.42% in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold. Alice also triumphed with Amanda Radford’s Headmore Dionysus (Dillon) winning the Blue Chip Novice Gold (75.67%) and was close runner up in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold (75.37%) won by Laura Wollen with Anne Seifert-Cohn’s striking Dutch six-year-old by Ampere, Ivan Carlos (77.40%). The final day provided more reasons for Headmore to celebrate. Riding her mother Sarah’s exciting nine-year-old chestnut mare Headmore Davina (by Dimaggio and full sister to Dionysus) in their first outing since competing in the Dressage Future Elite Championship at HOYS last year, Alice claimed both the Magic Prix St Georges Gold and Superflex Intermediate I Gold on plus 70% scores. “We played it a bit safe in the Inter I as we hadn’t been out since last year, but she felt so good that I asked for a bit more in the PSG and she was pure class,” said Alice, who trains with Erik Theilgaard. “Davina’s a horse with a very good brain that only makes mistakes if I do!” Also flying the flag for Headmore were Alice’s sister Kate, a small animal vet, and her own 15.3hh eight-year-old dun mare SOS Sealpoint (by Georgia Stokes’ Dutch New Forest Pony SOS Kantje’s Unicolor) winning the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver with 72.40%. Riding to Sara Green’s clever compilation from Jesus Christ Superstar, this combination who also successfully event and are aiming for the Badminton Grassroots Championships, made the family justifiably proud producing tears of joy from watching connections. Topping off a memorable week, Alice also celebrated several of her pupils’ successes at Wellington, including freelance groom/nanny Andrea Kirby’s win with her eight-year-old chestnut mare Headmore Dramatica (by Dimaggio) in the Prelim Silver, which Alice described as a “special moment”. “Andrea, who bought ‘Drama’ 18 months ago, works so hard to have her horse; she’s a real grafter and deserves this so much,” said Alice. “They were first in and produced a lovely, flowing, accurate test but the nervous wait for us all to find out the final placings was unbearable! “What an amazing way to end what has been the most amazing couple of weeks. Horses qualified at every level from Prelim to Inter I, we’re all really proud – it’s a huge achievement for a small stud like ours.” Also celebrating was Katie Bailey, who won the TheraPlate UK Medium Gold with her own eight-year-old 17hh gelding Hillgrounds Wolkenhall (by Wolkenderry) on 76.53%. Bought as a foal from breeder Claire Skinner, “Harry” produced a soft, flowing test with “a good amount of energy” which impressed the judges and earning 9s for the simple changes. “It was a hot class and I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but he felt amazing in the warm up and it felt like we kept that through the test,” said Katie, who was formerly based with Carl Hester and now runs her own competition and training yard in Newent, Glos. “Harry’s been a pleasure to train and ride through the levels and I’m excited at how well he’s turned out as it feels like there’s more to come. He’s the type of horse who is very confident in himself and just walks into the arena with a real ‘look at me’ quality, which really helps at competitions.” Following her success at Summerhouse regionals, Katie, who trains with Charlotte Dujardin, now heads to Hartpury with five horses qualified. Thanks go to the team at Wellington Riding, the Winter Championship class sponsors and all involved for an exciting Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to those who took part. Regional Champions: KBIS Preliminary Silver Andrea Kirby with Headmore Dramatica 71.89% Blue Chip Novice Silver Femke Mailand with Marvel 73.58 % Blue Chip Novice Gold Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Dionysus 75.67% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Kate Oppenheimer with SOS Sealpoint 72.40% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Laura Wollen with Ivan Carlos 77.40% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Melissa Joannides with Silken Crème 72.44% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Calum Whitworth with Hennessy T 74.42% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Debra Fews with Fabizio 73.52% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Bella Ruby 78.59% TheraPlate UK Medium Silver Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX 71.12% TheraPlate UK Medium Gold Katie Bailey with Hillgrounds Wolkenhall 76.53% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Katie Radzik with C’est La Vie 69.66% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Nick Lawson with Fandango V 69.16% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Kate Rowland with Erasmus 1 67.67% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Tom Goode with Davranche 71.57% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Lucy Pye with Superstar III 70.88% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Dannie Morgan with Knoxxs Figaro 74.77 Magic Prix St Georges Gold Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Davina 74.29% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Davina 70.263% For full results click here .

The first major Para dressage fixture of 2019 didn’t disappoint as the Equissage Pulse Para Winter Championships returned to Myerscough College last week lighting up the main arena with a showcase of British talent. The Gold sections were dominated by British team riders and familiar faces. Sir Lee Pearson stormed to victory in the Grade II Championships after posting 71.76% on Breezer III, as well as taking the third and fifth spots with Julie Daly’s B Grandeur and his own Para World Equestrian Games partner Styletta. Erin Orford and her WEG star Dior claimed the Grade III competition, whilst Tryon reserve rider Izzy Palmer notched up a title of her own in the Grade IV on board Sophie Wells’ Touchdown M. In the Grade I Gold it was Caitlyn Saddington to take the spoils after a superb test with Diana Barley and Erin Orford’s Nirvana Morroko; the judges duly awarded them 69.29%. Molton lady Charlotte Cundall repeated her National Championship with Brenda Reddy’s Bambam; another great score and another Grade V title was added successfully to their collection. Charlotte made the week worthwhile by also picking up four top four placings in the North West Winter Regional Championships, plus a golden ticket to the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. Speaking on her Facebook page she said, “WHAT A WEEK!! I just love my ponies so much and literally cannot believe how lucky I am to have such fabulous dancing partners and an incredible team around me. Thank you to my absolutely amazing sponsors and supporters for all that you do for me and The Lady Joseph Trust and Brenda Reddy for allowing me to ride your boys - I am so grateful.” In the Silver section Natalie South broke the magic 70% barrier with Deborah Hall’s skewbald gelding Stady Boy to take the Grade II ahead of Natalie Povey and Kyrby Brown, whilst Vanessa Palmer and Encore impressed in Grade III. Jamie Winduss and Julie Frizzell each logged 67% scores to claim the Grade I and Grade V titles, with Sara Bates and Tango III earning the top spot in the Grade IV class. The Bronze Championships were a close fought affair across all five grades. Grade III rider Tom Dyer stood out with Henry XVII, the duo topped the Grade III Championship with a whopping 73.89%, the highest score of the show. Sophie Lingfield and Trust April took an emphatic victory in the Grade I competition scoring 66,72%; the duo are part of the Chigwell Riding Trust For Special Needs and certainly made their journey worthwhile. Jane Ogden and her own charming 19 year old Fairview Romeo were the standout combination in the Grade II section, Lindsey McLaren and the Rubinstein son Rockefeller took the spoils in the Grade IV and Chloe Chadwick earned the highest Bronze score, a stellar 67.5%, en route to winning the Grade V Championship with her dancing partner of six years, the lovely Irish Sports Horse Inosent Flight. British Dressage thanks Para Dressage Championship sponsors Equissage Pulse as well as the team at Myerscough for making the event a success for all involved. Congratulations to all title winning combinations and to those who took part. Equissage Pulse Para Winter Champions Gold Grade I          Caitlyn Saddington with Nirvana Morroko, 69.29% Grade II          Lee Pearson with Breezer III, 71.76% Grade III        Erin Orford with Dior, 69.26% Grade IV        Izzy Palmer with Touchdown M, 71.34% Grade V         Charlotte Cundall with BamBam, 69.17% Silver Grade I          Jamie Winduss with Wonnacott, 67.75% Grade II         Natalie South with Stady Boy, 70.54% Grade III        Vanessa Palmer with Encore, 67.4% Grade IV        Sara Bates with Tango III, 69.66% Grade V         Julie Frizzell with Namibian, 67.5% Bronze Grade I          Sophie Lingfield with Trust April, 66.72% Grade II         Jane Ogden with Fairview Romeo, 63.97% Grade III        Tom Dyer with Henry XVII, 73.89% Grade IV        Lindsey McLaren with Rockefeller, 65.88% Grade V         Chloe Chadwick with Inosent Flight, 67.5% For full results click here . 

British Showjumping announce plans of a National Training Centre

The BEF is seeking candidates to fill two once in a lifetime positions.

Even with the 2019 season underway, there is still the chance to take part in the free volunteer training days with three dates coming up this month.

This week the British Eventing website scheduled three short periods of maintenance to install a variety of bug fixes and updates. The first maintenance occurred at 10pm on Monday 4 March, the second will take place after 11pm on Wednesday 6 March and the third at 10pm on Thursday 7 March.

Following the successful completion of our eight Regional Championships, we're excited to announce the allocated wild cards for the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships, 3 - 7 April 2019. The close of entries date for wild cards is tomorrow, Wednesday 6 March 2019 and NO late entries will be accepted so please get your entry in as soon as you can. You must make your entry online via My Riding Life by visiting the Entries/Times/Results page on www.bdchampionships.com Please contact the office immediately if you can't take you place at the Winter Championships so your spot can be passed down to the next eligible combination. Congratulations to all! KBIS Preliminary Anne O'Brien, Ginvino H, 72.76% Stephanie Graves, Rockwell Farrah H.F.D, 71.67% Caitlin Borland, Diva VI, 71.26% Gaby Botfield, Woodcroft Oscar, 71.15% Laura Cooper, Woodlander Roxanne , 71.03% Emma James, Balthasar II, 70.80% Georgina Chalmers-Gray, Gems Kristina, 70.63% Natasha Macdonald, MGcom Services Sauvey Golden Condor, 70.52% Sophia Marston, Solitaire II, 70.46% Blue Chip Novice Silver Sara Malpass, Keystone Dicaprio, 71.11% Samantha Seaton, Hookys Wish, 70.00% Hayley Upton, Canterbury Himself, 69.94% Jessica Williams, Loriens Graceful, 69.63% Blue Chip Novice Gold Becky Moody, Jagerbomb, 71.67% Antonia Brown, SJL Generous, 70.68% Ashley Jenkins, Don Regent, 70.49% Jacky Stolper, Virtuoso G, 70.49% Patsy Bartram, Greenacres Cadiz , 70.49% Antonia Brown, Dubel Colours, 70.19% Melissa Chapman, Ipache, 70.12% Edward Johnson, Faberge Egg, 70.12% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Richard Wood, Breezer III, 71.93% Chelsea Tolhurst, Hermitage De Jeu, 71.56% Carolyn Taylor, DCI Joe Black, 71.41% Gracie Catling, Henton For Fun, 71.20% Danielle Rhodes, Jannick, 71.20% Hannah Powel, Show Dance, 69.79% Jane Goodridge, D,Amore of Class, 69.74% Jennifer Harkness, Inouk, 69.69% William Roberts, Afortinius, 69.69% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Tahley Reeve-Smith, Woodcroft Valentino, 73.33% Maria Griffin, Cerruti, 72.08% Sam Rahmatalla, Becky W, 71.98% Emma Woolley, MSJ Furstin Rosa, 71.98% Sadie Smith, Imhotep, 71.93% Nikki Barker, San Pedro, 71.72% Charlie Hutton, Seagry Franchessca, 71.67% Melissa Richardson, Gravgaard's Sir Dundee, 71.46% Ryan Todd, Mount St John Di Romantica, 71.41% Theraplate UK Medium Silver Rachel Taylor, Faloya, 70.27% Hannah Bown, Sandro's Storm, 69.41% Ben Liles, Private Number, 68.42% Nicola Byam-Cook, Twyford Salamander, 68.38% Sara Malpass, Pitingo II, 68.33% Elice Willett, Gerento, 68.06% Helen Lees, Little Walero, 67.79% Patsy Bartram, Donnisbrock, 67.70% Chloe Naylor, Karisma, 67.70% Sarah Colborn , Furst Love 1, 67.66% Theraplate UK Medium Gold Emma Woolley, Hancock V, 72.34% Nikki Barker, San Pedro, 70.54% Jayne Turney, Costa III, 70.45% Antonia Brown, Krack De, 70.14% Maddy Whelan, Woodlander Rhythm N Blues, 70.00% Sarah Rao, Faydirime ZH, 69.82% Laura Wollen, Woodcroft Francisco, 69.64% Jessica Thompson, Fenwood, 69.41% Alex Chick, Giovanni BM, 69.01% Bryony Goodwin, Hawtins Soave, 68.96%   Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Lucy Pye, Fiderlight, 69.17% Helen Dunning, Bojack JX, 68.99% Charlotte Tuckwell, DHI Alligator, 68.77% Samantha Holland, Double Check, 68.42% Aimee Parry, Prototype, 68.25% Anna Miller, Adonis B, 68.11% Emma Bird, Soliman, 67.89% Lavinia Johnson, Dublin, 67.85% Sharon Hunt, Loughnatousa Winston, 67.63% Carlos Parro, Calcourt Landline, 67.54% Alice Begg, Farfan, 67.41% Nicky Heale, Retanach Request, 67.41% Natalie Tsuchiya, Fearless II, 67.28% Georgina Howard, Howards Mystery, 67.19% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Daniel Sherriff, Fx Bayford Hall Fergus, 70.53% Jessica Thompson, Fenwood, 70.18% Jessica Thompson, Grevens Tosca, 70.09% Nicola Buchanan, St Giles Fairytale, 69.96% Cornelia O'Mahony, Formidable, 69.74% Andrew Gould, Feiner Stern II, 69.47% Sarah Higgins, Faydirime ZH, 69.47% Sam Duckworth, Atterupgaards O2, 69.34% Daniel Timson, Bellagio,68.77% Damian Hallam, Glyndebourne, 68.73% Coll 170   Magic Prix St Georges Gold Jessica Wade, Empire H, 70.53% Charlotte Dicker, Sabatini, 70.31% Sarah Williams, Bohingus W, 70.22% Lara Edwards, Jazzed Up, 69.78% Lizzie Murray, Timolin, 69.56 % Amy Stovold Bobo L , 69.12% Nicola Buchanan, St Giles Fairytale, 68.99% Becky Moody, Full Fusion BS, 68.64% Jezz Palmer, Dutch Class, 68.25% Coll 125     Superflex Intermediate I Gold Imogen Chant, Dirty Dancing, 72.19% Elder Klatzko, Woodlander Little Richard, 69.78% Becky Moody, Full Fusion BS, 68.42% Kerry Mackin, Esquire III, 68.38% Katrina Cantrell, Woodlander Donna Summer, 68.33% Sarah Khairallah, Keystone Darling, 68.25% Sarah Rao, Waldessarini, 68.11% Sharon Edward, Rivaal, 67.76% Sarah Higgins, Alfranco, 67.76%   Freestyle to Music Wild Cards Baileys Horse Feeds Freestyle Novice Silver Vicky Rutherford, Dalvangs Design, 72.04% Sara Malpass, Keystone Dicaprio, 71.85% Laura Marshall, Cha Cha Herself, 71.76% Lucie Stokoe, Dolores II, 71.48% Emma Maisey, Bogelys Corporal, 70.83% Claire Shoesmith, Taiforgan Sir Monty, 70.56% Sam Gawn, Big Time Classic, 70.28% Charlotte Wells, Mission Colour, 70.28% Stephanie Jenkins, Chamonix II, 70.19% Darron Kaye, Flauris, 70.19% Elizabeth Jenkins, Salsad,Amour, 70.19% Baileys Horse Feeds Freestyle Novice Gold Nikki Barker, Dan Icarus, 76.67% Shelly Reeve-Smith, Gold Celeste Pilliere, 73.24% Lynn Wickes, Pauldarys Tiger Two Sox, 72.87% Edward Johnson, Faberge Egg, 72.59% Lewis Carrier, Di Donato, 71.85% Patsy Bartram, Greenacres Cadiz, 71.76% Coll 198.5   Suregrow Freestyle Elementary Silver Ruth Almond, Igor Du Banny, 70.90% Amanda Shirtcliffe, New Princess, 70.83% Ashleigh Hill, Westoak Midsommer, 70.64% Wendy Hudson, Chanel, 70.38%   Suregrow Freestyle Elementary Gold Georgia Davis, Keystone Diego, 75.45% Tahley Reeve-Smith, Woodcroft Valentino, 74.49% Sue Bradshaw, Genius K, 74.23% Jane Critchley, Firstino, 73.33% Jade Struthers , Ev Amore Mia, 73.14% Jacky Stolper, Virtuoso G, 72.82% Spillers Freestyle Medium Silver Phillippa Hamilton, Eastpoint, 72.83% Rebecca Belshaw, Evita Vienna, 72.22% Sophie Cox, Empire Of The Sun, 71.94% Fiona Newall, Fendy VCG, 71.61% Danielle Balsdon, Lord Lennox, 70.39% Lynn Perry, My Samber Rose, 69.83% Tracy Fall, Mount Pleasant San Lorenzo, 69.78% Amy Foster, Pikador, 69.39% Col 318.0 Spillers Freestyle Medium Gold Laura Wollen, Woodcroft Francisco, 72.61% Alice Peternell , Samson IV, 72.11% Sarah Cheetham, Stoiber's Black Pearl, 72.11% Louise Davison, Freddie Mercury, 71.83% Emily Harris, Fillinsky, 70.00% Helen Dutton, Rowangarth Rhydian, 69.50% Carmen Gammie, Champagne Bubbles, 69.28% Clare Knowles, Corona S, 69.22% Coll 319.5 Nupafeed Freestyle Advanced Medium Silver Tracy Fall, Mount Pleasant Fleur VII, 72.83% Jane Littlejohn, Urban Knight, 72.56% Chloe Naylor, Karisma, 71.06% Mandy Day, Eaton 1, 71.00% Stephanie Taylor, WGS Perugia, 70.67% Patrick Troddyn, Altogether Endeavour, 69.83% Sarah Colborn, Furst Love 1, 69.78% Rachel Tetley, Bono, 69.67%       Nupafeed Freestyle Advanced Medium Gold Alice Oppenheimer, Headmore Difinnity, 72.89% Louise Davison, Freddie Mercury, 72.22% Jezz Palmer, Obsessions Quickstep, 72.11% Beth Bainbridge, Quatermagic, 71.67% Jayne Turney, Cruz 111, 71.56% Beth Bainbridge, Diggo, 71.50% Jayne Turney, Penhaligon's Jupiter, 71.44% Abigail Hutton, Santorini, 71.00% Alice Peternell , Cynheidrefawr Creme de la Crème, 70.83% Charlotte Cundall, Bam Bam, 70.72% Lucy Amy, Rudy, 70.72% Sarah Kingwells, The Contact People Destiny D, 69.89%

Scotland’s Winter Regional Championships took place at Morris Equestrian Centre in East Ayrshire (22 – 24 February) where 118 competitors went down the centre line over the three days of competition. Nine senior listed judges officiated over 19 championship classes which saw several combinations taking home multiple titles. Popular West Lothian rider Jo Barry, who is no stranger to winning a succession of regional titles over the years, swept the board in impressive style once again claiming each of the four titles contested over three days with her two rides; her own and Lady Hope’s seven-year-old Hidalgo II (by Rousseau) and Gordon Grainger’s KWPN eight-year-old Goofy La Perle (by Belissimo). In the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Jo delivered the highest winning score of the regional championships (77.37%) with Hidalgo II, who she also rode to victory in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold (75.36%) (podium picture) taking the lead with a massive margin. Stable-mate Goofy La Perl, winner of the Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold Championships at last year’s LeMieux National Dressage Championships and the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold champion at Hartpury in 2018, also rose to the challenge in the TheraPlate UK Medium Gold impressing judges Helen Bradley, Andrea Hessay and Jane Peberdy who awarded this talented combination 72.66%. This year has already got off to an exciting start for Jo. Having won HorseScotland’s Performer of the Year Award in 2016, she has once again been nominated this year, while owner Gordon Granger is nominated as Owner of the Year. The award winners will be announced at a special dinner in Dunblane on Friday 1 March with guest speaker Peter Scudamore MBE. Jade Struthers, runner-up in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Gold Freestyle at last year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championships, also proved on top form taking home four tickets to Hartpury and is keeping fingers crossed for two wild cards in the Elementary Gold and Freestyle championships where she was placed second and third. Jade, who is studying Rural Business Management at SRUC Edinburgh, partnered Lindsay Moffatt’s stunning seven-year-old coloured mare EV Amore Mia (by Amour G), to win the TheraPlate UK Medium Silver and Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver. She also claimed the Blue Chip Novice Gold (69.32%) and Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold (72.78%) with six-year-old gelding Dalriada (by Dancier). Sharon Lindop, Acting Chairman for the Scottish region, pulled off an impressive double winning both the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold and Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold regional titles with her own 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Spielbanker (by Spielberg) who she bought in Germany as a six-year-old and trained on through the levels. Having recently celebrated her 50th birthday, this successful regional result was the icing on the cake for Sharon who trains with Paul Hayler and now plans to “crack on with PSG”. “Spiel is so much fun to ride, I absolutely adore him,” said Sharon. “In the freestyle, we rode to music I compiled from the movie The Mask of Zorro, which suits him really well as he reminds me a lot of Antonio Banderas – good looking and cheeky!” Liz Somerville, Practice Manager and Managing Director of Loch Leven Equine Practice in Kinross where she works with vet husband Hugh, made a memorable regional debut. Liz was the clear winner of the KBIS Preliminary Silver (73.51%) with her own Splash and Dash, a good-looking seven-year-old gelding by Dignified van't Zorgvliet, who was bred in Ireland and bought locally three years ago as an unbacked four-year-old. This well-matched duo, who train with Sarah and James Oakden, remain virtually unbeaten in Prelim and Novice classes since making their affiliated debut in 2017. “This was my first time at a regional and riding in front of more than one judge, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I did feel a bit of pressure before our first test, but just told myself to breathe and stay as relaxed as possible as we left the warm-up for our test,” said Liz, who travelled to the venue two days before competing in order to make the most of the arena walks. “Splash is the most kind, genuine person and an absolute pleasure to ride. He can be a bit of a worrier, but he tries so hard and has such a good temperament that even my eight-year-old son can lead him. “Spiel is the first horse I’ve had who’s been good at dressage and I’m looking forward to learning together and enjoying our journey up the levels.” Thanks go to the dedicated team at Morris Equestrian Centre, the Winter Championships class sponsors and all involved with another exciting Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part. Regional Champions: KBIS Preliminary Silver Liz Somerville with Splash and Dash 73.51% Blue Chip Novice Silver Carla Milne with Hey Good Looking GK 70.74% Blue Chip Novice Gold Jade Struthers with Dalriada 69.32% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Carla Milne with Hey Good Looking GK 72.59% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Jade Struthers with Dalriada 72.78% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Chloe Milne with Cremdalla Crem 69.69% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Jo Barry with Hidalgo II, 75.36% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Chloe Milne with Cremdalla Crem 71.41% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Jo Barry with Hidalgo II 77.37% TheraPlate UK Medium Silver Jade Struthers with EV Amore Mia, 69.64% TheraPlate UK Medium Gold Jo Barry with Goofy La Perle, 72.66% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Jade Struthers with EV Amore Mia, 73.06% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Jo Barry with Hidalgo II, 72.00% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Susan Dunlop with Dancer RV, 67.98% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Sharon Lindop with Spielbanker 69.78% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Nicky Heale with Retanach Request 72.06% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Sharon Lindop with Spielbanker 71.44% Magic Prix St Georges Gold Eilidh Grant with Eranda Retto 69.43% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Eilidh Grant with Eranda Retto, 69.17% For full results click here .  

The Training and Education team is proud to present the full timetable for this year’s National Judges Convention, kindly supported by the BDSC. The event takes place at the outstanding Buckinghamshire venue Addington Equestrian on Tuesday 9 April and will start at 9.50am with an introduction to the day by our three standout hosts , Isobel Wessels, Clive Halsall and Judy Harvey. Join us as we aim to consider the different viewpoints of judges at the different viewpoints in the arena and how this affects the judge, the rider and the result. Each session will involve in depth discussion evaluating the movements performed and exploring how these can be improved with each combination. Expect a highly interactive day with plenty of time allowed for questions and healthy discussion, plus a dedicated question and answer session at the end of the day. Within each session attendees are invited to judge the movements using the dedicated scoring pages included in the complimentary event programme. To start the day, Novice 37a will be judged aloud, before all other sessions are open for attendees to have the opportunity to score what they see. Timetable: 9.50 Welcome to the National Judges Convention 10.00 Novice – Incorporating Novice 37a 10.40 Elementary – Incorporating Elementary 59 11.20 Medium – Trot sequences and lateral work 12.00 Advanced Medium – Canter sequences and flying changes 12.45 Lunch break 1.45 Prix St Georges – Trot sequences and centre lines 2.20 Prix St Georges – Canter sequences 2.55 Grand Prix – Canter sequences 3.30 Grand Prix – Trot sequences, passage and piaffe 4.00 Questions and conclusions Tickets are £30 for listed judges and for trainee judges and all others they are £35, booking fees apply. Please call Sophia Monington on 02476 698831 or click here to book online at any time.

British Showjumping Member Discount on Royal Windsor Horse Show Tickets

Under 25s European Champion Charlotte Fry made a winning return to the international arena at last week’s CDI Lier, hosted at the impressive Azelhof Horse Events centre, Belgium (27 February – 3 March 2019). Making her CDI debut at U25s level with the Van Olst’s outstanding stallion Everdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro), Charlotte strolled to two victories earning top marks of 71.43% in the 16 – 25 Grand Prix and 75.26% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Opting to step her European Champion partner up to senior level, Charlotte continued to make an impression finishing as best of the brits in the CDI4* Grand Prix with 69.65% and a creditable eigth place. The well-matched duo went on to score 69% in the Grand Prix Special for eighth. A busy week for the Yorkshire-born rider concluded with three more top ten placings, this time in the CDI4* Small Tour competitions with the Van Olst’s chestnut gelding Fendi T. Emma Hindle and Romy Del Sol also enjoyed a fantastic show, the 13 year old mare by Blue Hors Romanov showed her talent for tenth in the Grand Prix scoring 69.02% and fifth in the Grand Prix Special with 70.06%. A usually electric atmosphere at the busy show in Azelhof was sadly dampened by the news of the devastating barn fire at Gestut Erlenhof, home to the Rothenberger family who’d travelled to Belgium with their youngest daughter Semmieke to contest the Young Rider classes. The team at British Dressage send their sincere condolences. Congratulations to all British riders who took part on some fantastic results. Results of British riders CDI4* Prix St Georges 1st Ann-Christin Wienkamp with Nymphenburgs First Choice, 72.23% (GER) 2nd Charlotte Fry with Fendi T, 71.73% (GBR) CDI4* Intermediate I 1st Ann-Christin Wienkamp with Nymphenburgs First Choice, 71.47% (GER) 8th Charlotte Fry with Fendi T, 68.97% (GBR) CDI4* Intermediate I Freestyle 1st Kristine Moller with Standing O’vation TSF, 76.78% (NED) 7th Charlotte Fry with Fendi T, 71.25% CDI-U25 Grand Prix 1st Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 71.43% (GBR) 5th Ellen McCarthy with Belafonte, 63.48% (GBR) CDI-U25 Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 75.26% (GBR) 4th Ellen McCarthy with Belafonte, 66.77% (GBR) CDI4* Grand Prix 1st Nicolas Wagner with Quarter Back Junior, 72.84% (LUX) 8th Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 69.65% (GBR) 10th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 69.02% (GBR) 24th Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 63.87% (GBR) 26th Ben Martin with Dimaggik, 63.15% (GBR) CDI4* Grand Prix Special 1st Nicolas Wagner with Quarter Back Junior, 75.55% (LUX) 5th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 70.06% (GBR) 8th Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 69.00% (GBR) 14th Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 63.53% (GBR) CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle 1st Anne Meulendijks with MDH Avanti N.O.P, 76.44% (NED) 14th Ben Martin with Dimaggik, 63.94% (GBR) For full results click here .   

The first major Para Dressage fixture of 2019 didn’t disappoint as the Equissage Pulse Para Winter Championships returned to Myerscough College last week lighting up the main arena with a showcase of British talent. The Gold sections were dominated by British team riders and familiar faces. Sir Lee Pearson CBE stormed to victory in the Grade II Championships after posting 71.76% on Breezer III, as well as taking the third and fifth spots with Julie Daly’s B Grandeur and his own Para World Equestrian Games partner Styletta. Erin Orford and her WEG star Dior claimed the Grade III competition, whilst Tryon reserve rider Izzy Palmer notched up a title of her own in the Grade IV on board Sophie Wells’ Touchdown M. In the Grade I Gold it was Caitlyn Saddington to take the spoils after a superb test with Diana Barley and Erin Orford’s Nirvana Morroko; the judges duly awarded them 69.29%. Molton lady Charlotte Cundall repeated her National Championship with Brenda Reddy’s Bambam; another great score and another Grade V title was added successfully to their collection. Charlotte made the week worthwhile by also picking up four top four placings in the North West Winter Regional Championships, plus a golden ticket to the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. Speaking on her Facebook page she said, “WHAT A WEEK!! I just love my ponies so much and literally cannot believe how lucky I am to have such fabulous dancing partners and an incredible team around me. Thank you to my absolutely amazing sponsors and supporters for all that you do for me and The Lady Joseph Trust and Brenda Reddy for allowing me to ride your boys - I am so grateful.” In the Silver section Grade III rider Tom Dyer stood out with Henry XVII, the duo topped the Grade III Championship with a whopping 73.89%, the highest score of the show. Jamie Winduss and Julie Frizzell each logged 67% scores to claim the Grade I and Grade V titles, whilst Sara Bates and Tango III earned the top spot in the Grade IV class. Natalie South broke the magic 70% barrier with Deborah Hall’s skewbald gelding Stady Boy to take the Grade II ahead of Natalie Povey and Kyrby Brown. The Bronze Championships were a close fought affair across all five grades. Sophie Lingfield and Trust April took an emphatic victory in the Grade I competition scoring 66,72%; the duo are part of the Chigwell Riding Trust For Special Needs and certainly made their journey worthwhile. Jane Ogden and her own charming 19 year old Fairview Romeo were the standout combination in the Grade II section, whilst Vanessa Palmer and Encore impressed in Grade III. Lindsey McLaren and the Rubinstein son Rockefeller took the spoils in the Grade IV and Chloe Chadwick earned the highest Bronze score, a stellar 67.5%, en route to winning the Grade V Championship with her dancing partner of six years, the lovely Irish Sports Horse Inosent Flight. British Dressage thanks Para Dressage Championship sponsors Equissage Pulse as well as the team at Myerscough for making the event a success for all involved. Congratulations to all title winning combinations and to those who took part. Equissage Pulse Para Winter Champions Gold Grade I Caitlyn Saddington with Nirvana Morroko, 69.29% Grade II Lee Pearson with Breezer III, 71.76% Grade III Erin Orford with Dior, 69.26% Grade IV Izzy Palmer with Touchdown M, 71.34% Grade V Charlotte Cundall with BamBam, 69.17% Silver Grade I Jamie Winduss with Wonnacott, 67.75% Grade II Natalie South with Stady Boy, 70.54% Grade III Tom Dyer with Henry XVII, 73.89% Grade IV Sara Bates with Tango III, 69.66% Grade V Julie Frizzell with Namibian, 67.5% Bronze Grade I Sophie Lingfield with Trust April, 66.72% Grade II Jane Ogden with Fairview Romeo, 63.97% Grade III Vanessa Palmer with Encore, 67.4% Grade IV Lindsey McLaren with Rockefeller, 65.88% Grade V Chloe Chadwick with Inosent Flight, 67.5% For full results click here .   

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Doha CDI5*/CPEDI3* in Qatar (7 – 9 March 2019). CDI5* Hayley Watson-Greaves from Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire with her own Rubins Nite (black gelding, 15yrs, 16.3hh, s. Rubin Royal, ds. Limbo) – pictured. CPEDI3* Julie Payne from Oxford, Oxfordshire with her own Pandora (chestnut mare, 18yrs, 17hh, s. Pascal). Amanda Shirtcliffe from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire with Louise Robson’s Remi (dark bay gelding, 10yrs, 16.1hh, s. Desert Moon). Event website Watch live Photo © Jon Stroud

UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF ENTRIES EXPECTED FOR CHI ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW AS NATIONAL ENTRIES OPEN AND NEW CLASSES ARE INTRODUCED

British Breeding Stallion Event ? March 16th, 2019

Claudia Moore and Holly Truelove are victorious in the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Qualifiers at Arena UK

Sarah Armstrong supported British Equestrian teams to multi-medal successes over the past 11 years.

 

 

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has recently announced the establishment of an Emergency Response Group, following close work with veterinary experts and leaders in the equine industry to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases across UK horses.

 

Ben Maher & Explosion W finish 2nd in LGCT Doha Grand Prix by narrow margin

BEF works with equine leaders to tackle the spread of infectious diseases; Emergency response from COBRA-style group

The following Director posts are, in line with the British Dressage Articles of Association, eligible for election at the AGM in September 2019. This is an ideal opportunity for members to get more involved in developing the future strategy for BD, so please do volunteer your services and help support the sport you love. Chairman International Director Sport Operations Director All applicants will need to meet the specified knowledge, experience and competencies required for a Board Director, which are available along with the role descriptions for each position on this web page . This notice is being posted as required under Articles 18.8 and 18.9, to invite anyone wishing to stand for election for any of the roles to request or download a nomination paper from the Board of British Dressage and return it completed to the office by 3.00pm on 1 May 2019. Candidates will need to provide a full curriculum vitae, together with a supporting statement detailing how they meet the role requirements, as well as complete a declaration of interests form. All applications will then be reviewed by the Nominations Committee, in accordance with Article 23.3, with interviews conducted before the successful candidates are put forward for election by members. Download: Nomination form Declaration of Interests form The elections will be voted on by members by electronic ballot, to take place before the 2019 AGM. Details of the nominees, including any candidates nominated by the Board of British Dressage under article 18.7.2, will appear in the BD magazine and on the BD website. For further information, please contact Angela Green, HR & Office Manager, by email or call 024 76 698844

Performance Manager for Para-Equestrian Dressage  The British Equestrian Federation is looking for a Performance Manager to lead our highly successful Para-Equestrian Dressage team to international competitions, European Championships, World Championships and Paralympic Games. You will develop a high performance system that consistently delivers medal success at Championship level. You will be expected to provide leadership and management of the UK Sport World Class Para-Equestrian Dressage Podium programme, working collaboratively to utilise shared knowledge and experience across the programme in order to maximise performance gains and deliver world class medal-winning success. Full job description Application form Privacy notice Pathway Manager for Para-Equestrian Dressage The British Equestrian Federation is looking for a Pathway Manager to join our highly successful team that has consistently delivered medals at international competitions. You will provide highly effective management of the UK Sport Lottery Funded World Class Programme Podium Potential ParaEquestrian Dressage programme and work with the Performance Manager to utilise shared knowledge and experience to deliver an effective Performance Pathway Programme that recognises potential, nurtures growth and drives sustained medal success. You will develop, evolve and implement the technical development framework for para-equestrian dressage athletes to transition to the Podium squad and deliver medal-winning performances. Full job description Application form Privacy notice

1st March - BEF Update on Equine Flu

Longines increase support of Hickstead

BEF reminds organisers of the importance of their vital role in preventing the spread of Equine Flu

BD Southern region’s Winter Regionals were dominated by high scores and dual title winners (19 – 24 February 2019). Hannah Biggs firmly laid down the gauntlet in the Magic Prix St Georges and Superflex Intermediate I classes, taking two emphatic titles with her own Don Caledonia. The Don Schufro sired gelding excelled in both small tour level tests with two impressive winning scores of 76.36% and 77.98%. Having ridden and produced ‘Archie’ from BD six year old classes to Intermediate I, Hannah has enjoyed much success along the way with multiple trips to National and Winter Championships. Taking to Facebook to celebrate and share the news she said, “Today I took my gorgeous boy Archie for a little trip out in my lovely lorry up to Merrist Wood Regional Championships, along with lorry dog Logi. The sun was shining and I danced with my best friend. I think it’s safe to say Archie smashed out two fantastic tests to become double Regional Champion. We scored 76% in the PSG and 77% in the Intermediate I, today was a good day!” Judge Mark Ruddock was undoubtedly impressed with the duo’s performance in the Magic Prix St Georges class awarding no less than a nine for Hannah’s riding and adding a final general remark to summarise the test as “a display of harmony, preparation and great training”. Hampshire lady Alice Oppenheimer enjoyed yet another winning trip to the Winter Regionals, this time with rising star Headmore Dionysus, owned by Amanda Radford. The eight year old gelding showed all the potential for the future taking home an Elementary double after scoring 74.63% in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold and 75.25% in the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold. It was a positive week all round for Alice and the team at Headmore Stud, eight tests from prefixed horses resulted in three wins and five second places, what a triumph for British breeding. The highest score of the show also belonged to a Headmore horse. With Maeve Morris in the saddle, Headmore Footloose danced his way to 78.52% in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver earning the duo a precious qualification ticket in fine fashion. Maeve and ‘Eric’ are no strangers to success having stormed to victory in last year’s BackinAction Preliminary class at the LeMieux National Championships. Katherine Lewis enjoyed a Medium double with her eye-catching Friesian stallion Jos K, by Tsjale 454. Having turned heads at 2018’s Championships, the duo will be back to contest the Theraplate UK Medium Gold and Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold after topping the podiums with 73.87% and 75.16% respectively. Last year’s Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver winner Holly Colgate-Hardaway also booked her place at Hartpury to contest this year’s Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver and Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Championships. Riding another two superb tests she scored 71.31% and 75.94% with her mother Zoe Sopp’s talented Danish bred gelding Dalvangs Lorenzo to pick up her qualification tickets in style. Thanks go to the team at Merrist Wood, the Winter Championship class sponsors and all involved for an exciting Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to those who took part. Regional Champions: KBIS Preliminary Silver Gill Peckham with Hero, 71.26% Blue Chip Novice Silver Rebecca Marsden with Harley I, 72.84% Blue Chip Novice Gold Anna Miller with Silver Star, 72.84% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Maeve Morris with Headmore Footloose, 78.51% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Jezz Palmer with Emma II, 77.77% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Rebecca Marsden with Fiorello, 72.65% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Dionysus, 74.63% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Florence Human with Fulgencio, 72.50% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Dionysus, 75.25% TheraPlate UK Medium Silver Joanne Price with Casino Scandal, 72.07% TheraPlate UK Medium Gold Katharine Lewis with Jos K, 73.87% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Christiane Oakley with Probono II, 72.16% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Katharine Lewis with Jos K, 75.16% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Holly Colgate-Hardaway with Dalvangs Lorenzo, 71.31% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Dannie Morgan with Knoxx’s Figaro, 72.54% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Holly Colgate-Hardaway with Dalvangs Lorenzo, 75.94% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Jezz Palmer with Dutch Class, 73.05% Magic Prix St Georges Gold Hannah Biggs with Don Caledonia, 76.36% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Hannah Biggs with Don Caledonia, 77.98% For full results click here . Photo by Nicola Elliot 2018.  

Multiple winners were the order of the week at Myerscough College Winter Regional Championships in Lancashire (18 – 24 February 2019). First up, World Class Podium Potential rider Becky Moody was on very good form throughout the competition winning an incredible four regional titles over the seven days. With the baby of her team, five-year-old KWPN licensed stallion James Bond 2 (Desperado x Fidertanz) - pictured, Becky received the highest non-freestyle score – 75.74% - to win the Blue Chip Novice Gold. Owned by Jo Cooper, ‘Q’ as he’s known, moved to Becky’s stable in November 2017 and is an exciting prospect for his rider. “This young stallion really is an absolute babe - so talented and just a joy to work with,” said Becky on Moody Dressage Facebook . Becky shone at the FEI levels too, winning the Magic Prix St Georges with Lucy Swinden’s 11-year-old tobiano gelding Odwig’s Echo (by Stanhopes Odwig) on a score of 69.21%, and coming close second to Nathalie Kayal and DHI Cleverboy in the Superflex Inter I. Odwig’s Echo, who is amusingly dubbed the ‘the cow pony’ by Team Moody due to his colouring, is homebred by Lucy and sired by her Junior/Young Rider horse Stanhopes Odwig out of Spirit of Summer who Lucy rode to Advanced Medium. The following day, with owner Lucy at the reins, Odwig’s Echo also claimed the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver with a plus-70% performance. Becky’s success continued through the week with Heavenly Kiss BS (Fürst Kiss x Don Schufro), the imposing seven-year-old gelding who she co-owns with Julie Lockey. The 2017 Blue Chip Novice Gold Champions won both the TheraPlate UK Medium Gold and the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold with scores of 72.57% and 70.39% respectively. Becky has known the 18hh gentle giant, who’s known at home as ‘Hectorsaurus’, since he was a foal and has produced him since a three-year-old. Springfern Sporthorses’ Martin Schleicher, who was second to Becky in the Novice Gold, claimed two further tickets for the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, and both in competitive freestyles – the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold with John Minion’s seven-year-old gelding Faszination I (By Foundation) and the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold with Pippa Geddes’ Tom Cruz, a Breitling W-sired 14-year-old. Sealing two victories for the younger generation, eighteen-year-old Charlotte Lutener from West Yorkshire won both the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver section 1 (71.77%) and the TheraPlate UK Medium Silver (70.68%) with AB Barroco, her Belissimo M-sired nine-year-old. “Winter Championships here we come,” said Charlotte on Charlotte Lutener Dressage after her first victory. “I am absolutely over the moon with my beautiful Bertie [Ab Barroco] winning the Medium Silver Regional Championships this afternoon on 70.68%! Bertie gave me such an amazing feeling in the test, we gave it our all and went for everything! A massive thank you to my trainer Jessica Dunn for being an endless support and a key part of our success!” British Dressage thanks Myerscough College, the Winter Championships class sponsors and all involved for a successful Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part. KBIS Preliminary Silver Natasha Taylor with Secret Britannia, 70.23% Blue Chip Novice Silver Hannah Anderson with Ike, 70.06% Blue Chip Novice Gold Becky Moody with James Bond II, 75.74% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Rhiannon Hinton with Quaikin Horatio, 74.17% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Martin Schleicher with Faszination I, 75.93% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver – section 1 Charlotte Lutener with Ab Barroco, 71.77% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver - section 2 Lauren Noble with Sugarhill Trifle, 74.32% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Sarah Higgins with Elixer, 72.55% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Pamela Lupton with Gladiator DHI, 68.72% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Martin Schleicher with Tom Cruz, 74.62% TheraPlate UK Medium Silver Charlotte Lutener with Ab Barroco, 70.68% TheraPlate UK Medium Gold Becky Moody with Heavenly Kiss BS, 72.57% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Lavinia Johnson with Dublin, 74.89% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Melanie Phillips with Ruxton Shogun, 69.94% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Lucy Swinden with Odwig’s Echo, 70.26% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Becky Moody with Heavenly Kiss BS, 70.39% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Izzy Palmer with Touchdown M, 73.33% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Melanie Phillips with Ruxton Showgirl, 70.56% Magic Prix St Georges Gold Becky Moody with Odwigs Echo, 69.21% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Nathalie Kayal with DHI Cleverboy, 70.75% For results click here

Following feedback from our members that they would like more ways to communicate with British Eventing, we are pleased to bring the new Ask BE surgeries to events this season.

British Eventing would like to invite riders who meet the criteria below to apply for the British 2019 FEI Nations Cups squad.

Kent-based British Pony rider Bonnie Bourne has returned victorious from Nice CDI in France (21 – 24 February 2019) with a hat-trick of wins for Great Britain. Riding her 16-year-old gelding Fin C WE (Famos x Eiger III), Bonnie had much to celebrate in the beautiful setting of the French Riviera venue having achieved three CDI personal best scores. The winning pair claimed Friday’s Pony Team Test with 68%, Saturday’s Individual with 71.48% and Sunday’s Freestyle with a score of 73.47%. Bonnie is trained by Joyce Wood and also receives support from Tracey Collis at Westcroft Development and Performance who travels with Bonnie to ‘away’ shows as driver, groom and coach. “We couldn’t be happier,” said Bonnie’s mother, Jenny. “Her aim was to get 70% so to do this and win all three classes by a good margin was way beyond our expectations. Bonnie rode with much more confidence in the Individual Test and was also thrilled with the Freestyle result. The only time she’d previously ridden the routine was at Hickstead CDI and it really didn’t come off. We were thrilled that it went well this time. “Ros Emery-Kay compiled the music and it’s just a bit different. It has Kid Creole and the Coconuts’ Annie I’m Not Your Daddy for the canter and Michael Buble’s Sway for trot, and it got a really good reaction. “Fin hasn’t been an easy pony, but they’ve really grown as a partnership and have much more confidence in each other,” she added. Bonnie, who previously enjoyed success to FEI level with the Welsh palomino Twyford Salamander, is in her second competition season with ‘Fin’ with whom she’s been selected for the 2018/2019 Pony Prime Squad. Results FEI Pony Team Test 1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 68.00% (GBR) 2nd Astrid Antunes Millou with Bandro Hit Linaro, 65.47% (FRA) 3rd Alexandre Cheret with Butterfly Dew Drop, 64.71% (FRA) FEI Pony Individual Test 1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 71.48% 2nd Astrid Antunes Millou with Bandro Hit Linaro, 68.19% (FRA) 3rd Alexandre Cheret with Butterfly Dew Drop, 67.34% (FRA) FEI Pony Freestyle 1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 73.47% (GBR) 2nd Alexandre Cheret with Butterfly Dew Drop, 70.52% (FRA) 3rd Layla Schmid with Ashen Dew Drop, 67.52% (FRA) For full results click here

Retrained Racehorses Competition Structure 2019

Following on from the successes of the 2018 Training Scholars, Alex Bragg and Laura Collett, the Horse Trials Support Group is delighted to announce that they will continue their involvement with HTSG as ambassadors for 2019.

Bicton Arena has signed a major new sponsorship deal with WH Bond, its most significant yet under the tenure of the venue’s manager Helen West.

High scoring winners dominated across the levels at Easton & Otley College in Norfolk (19 – 23 February), where the Eastern Winter Regional Championships’ organising team earned high praise from competitors and connections over five action-packed days. Alex Hardwick enjoyed a “dream outing” hitting outstanding form and claiming no less than three regional titles and several placings on plus-70% scores, including winning both the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold and TheraPlate UK Medium Gold with Sally Hardwick’s seven-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Glasgow (by Uphill) - pictured - and the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold with the Bechtolsheimers’ 17.3hh Trakehner Polar Star III (by Polarian). “It’s been a crazy but truly memorable five days, one of the best weeks of our lives,” said Alex. “The horses all tried their hearts out and I feel incredibly blessed.” Alex travelled to the East Anglia venue with four horses accompanied by “my Supermum” Sally, who was also well placed in the Advanced Medium Gold championship on her seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding Dance On Top (by De Niro). The diminutive 16.1hh Glasgow (Buddy) was bought from his breeder in Holland two years ago and was originally intended to be Sally’s ride, but since forming a special partnership with Alex, including winning the Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold title at last year’s LeMieux National Dressage Championships, the Hertfordshire-based rider is delighted to be given the opportunity to keep the ride as they head to another championships. “I love this little guy, he’s the perfect package - mini but mighty! Like a wind-up toy; he just keeps getting better and better and is such a happy, jolly person, he makes me smile every time I ride him,” said Alex, a former winner of the Young Professionals Award and member of the European Young Rider team in 2012, who trains with both her mother and Carl Hester. Alex took on the ride of the talented nine-year-old 18hh-plus “gentle giant” Polar Star III (who she affectionately calls Amazing Albert) two years ago after being offered the opportunity by Dr Bechtolsheimer. “For such a big horse, he’s incredibly athletic and his desire to work is amazing. He’s my perfect horse; when I ride him it feels like he gives me wings and I know there’s even more to come!” said Alex. “Riding two such different horses makes it interesting. Albert feels like a Formula One power house, whereas Buddy is more like driving a smooth Mercedes S Class that you can push forward through the gears – it’s certainly going to be an exciting trip to the winters!” Antonia Brown was also on a high following her outstanding win in the Blue Chip Novice Gold scoring 76.66% with Sara Lucas’s 17.1hh five-year-old gelding by Blue Hors Zack, SJL Baks Zacco. Antonia was also placed third in the same class on 70.18% with her own six-year-old coloured gelding Dubel Colours (by Dreamboy) who is now offered for sale, and second in the Advanced Medium Championships with Sara Lucas’s 12-year-old DHI Buddy (by Trento B). Bought from the Brightwells Elite Dressage sales at Addington in 2017 as a three-year-old, Zacco has proved a consistent hi-scorer both in the Shearwater Four-year-old Young Horse Championship last year (placed third with Dan Greenwood) and novice classes with Antonia, who describes him as “super talented”. “He feels like a horse which has lived life before,” said Antonia. “He’s incredibly balanced, finds everything easy and feels like he’ll be able to do it all; it’s a real privilege to ride him.” In spite of having got up at 3.15am to set off at 4.30am from their Northamptonshire base to Easton with three horses, Antonia and husband Tim were full of praise for the venue and its organisers. “It was well worth the early start and a three-hour journey – Duncan [Whitney-Groom] and his team were outstanding, providing great facilities and a good atmosphere with mounted prizegivings which were organised in such a way that it was a positive experience. “We also appreciated the updates and video clips posted daily on their Facebook page, which meant that supporters and owners like Sarah who was away, could still keep in touch with what was happening.” Former Petplan Equine Area Festival Elementary Open champions in 2016 and third in last year’s Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze Championships at Hartpury, Christine Cockerton with Evaldo scored an impressive double taking the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver and Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver regional titles. Christine, a McTimoney Chiropractor from Braintree, Essex, has produced her striking 10-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Vivaldo through the grades from four-year-old classes. Following his KBIS Preliminary Silver regional title win at Addington earlier this month, 41-year old James Boulton from Lincolnshire made his mark once again taking a second title with his big moving 17.1hh Ampére-bred mare Florence PFB. This well matched combination impressed winning the Blue Chip Novice Silver regional title with 70.4% by a clear margin. Gracie Catling and her striking 14hh dun gelding Dalyhill Rocker, who is by the renowned Connemara sire Inverin Rocky, were also clear winners scoring 73.51% sending them forward to the finals of the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver at NAF Five Star Winter Championships at Hartpury (3 - 7 April). Thanks go to the dedicated team at Easton & Otley College, the Winter Championships class sponsors and all involved with another exciting Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part. Regional Champions: KBIS Preliminary Silver Kate Low with Maggies Hope, 71.32% Blue Chip Novice Silver James Boulton with Florence PFB 70.4% Blue Chip Novice Gold Antonia Brown with SJL Baks Zacco, 76.66% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Gracie Catling with Dalyhill Rocker 73.51% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Tahley Reeve-Smith with Gianni Versace, 77.13% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Trisha Poison with Crime Suspect 70.05% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Alex Hardwick with Glasgow MH, 76.35% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Lynn Perry with Starmaker, 71.92% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Nikki Barker with History 74.55% TheraPlate UK Medium Silver Margaret Phizacklea with Good Guy, 70.58% TheraPlate UK Medium Gold Alex Hardwick with Glasgow MH, 75.72% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Lily Payne with Beckhouse Cancara 73.77% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Mandy Day with Glomf, 69.05% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Christine Cockerton with Evaldo, 69.38% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Alex Hardwick with Polar Star III 74.16% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Christine Cockerton with Evaldo 75.16% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Natalie Allen with Fichellio, 71.94% Magic Prix St Georges Gold Paul Friday with Hawtins Horatio, 69.38% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Nikki Barker with Durable, 73.24% For full results click here Photo © Fae Loudoun Photography

The following riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at Lier CDI4*/CDIU25 in Belgium (27 February – 3 March 2019). Big Tour Charlotte Fry from North Yorkshire but based in the Netherlands, with her own and Anne Van Olst’s Dark Legend V (dark bay gelding, 11yrs, s. Zucchero ds. Tango) - pictured. Sara Gallop from Gloucester, Gloucestershire with her own Bandreo (bay stallion, 13yrs, s. Sandreo). Emma Hindle from Sale, Greater Manchester with her own Romy Del Sol (brown mare, 13yrs, s. Romanov Blue Hors). Ben Martin from Ongar, Essex with his own  Dimaggik (bay mare, 14yrs, s. Dimaggio ds. Fleurie Du Manoir). Small Tour Charlotte Fry with Anne Van Olst’s Fendi T (chestnut gelding, 9yrs, s. Negro ds. Lester). CDIU25 Charlotte Fry with Anne Van Olst’s Everdale (black stallion, 10yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale x ds. Negro). Ellie McCarthy from New Milton, Hampshire with Bridget McCarthy’s Belafonte (chestnut gelding, 15yrs, s. Belissimo M ds. Wendekreis). Event website Live stream Photo © Digishots

British Showjumping ?Just for Schools? Winter Championships 2019

Paul Bevan is victorious in the Winter Grand Prix at SouthView Equestrian Centre

Allan Birch Claims his Second Qualifying Ticket in the SEIB Winter Novice Qualifier at SouthView Equestrian Centre

Harry Bateman Snatches the Top Spot in The Final Champagne Cave Winter Grades B & C Qualifier at SouthView Equestrian Centre

Coaching survey - help us shape the future of coaching in equestrian sport

Due to the continued growth of the British Eventing Under 18 Programme, British Eventing currently has a contractor vacancy for an Under 18 Regional Coach in the East Midlands .

Competitors in the Baileys Horse Feeds Arena Eventing Championships were treated to a spectacular day of competition at Dallas Burston Polo Club, where the 2019 80cm, 90cm and 100cm champions were crowned.

British Eventing is pleased to welcome Sarah Hutchison as the new Under 18 Regional Coordinator for Scotland.

Ben Maher takes Second Place in the CSI3* Grand Prix in Oliva

Ellen Whitaker 2nd in Vilamoura Grand Prix

Top three finish for Jake Saywell & Jodie Hall-McAteer

It was a bumper year in 2018 for the Nettex Associated Championships with over 915 combinations taking part across 10 individual championships and 2019 is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve already announced our duo of venues hosting the new format Championships in Bury Farm and Vale View who will provide two amazing competitions but we have some further news for competitors. Following feedback, the following rules will be implemented for the 2019 series in the Nettex Championships: • We’ve upped the level for the Draught and Arab Championships so there’s now a Championship at Medium level. • In the Veteran Horse Associated Championships, winning combinations are no longer required to move up a level for the following year’s event. Understanding the stress on ageing horses, the Sports Operations committee agreed that previous winners should be allowed to defend their title. • In the British Native Pony, GB PRE, Lusitano, TGCA and RoR Championships, winning combinations at Medium level and above (where applicable) are no longer required to move up a level for the following year’s event so can return to defend their crown. “The Nettex Associated Championships are designed to be an event for all,” Sports Operations Manager Lou Jones commented, “We’ve listened to feedback from our competitors and hope that the recent changes will continue to make this Championship series one of the most inclusive on offer within the BD spectrum. With the continued support of Nettex, we’re sure that this year’s series will be the best yet.” Serena Kidd, National Equine Business Manager for Nettex added, “The Nettex product range offers something for every equine no matter what breed, age and discipline and this truly British brand is delighted to be supporting the riders in the Associated Championships. With top dressage rider Carl Hester putting his trust in our brand, we are proud that Nettex delivers products and customer support for riders of any level.” To celebrate this second year sponsoring the Associated Championships, Nettex is encouraging customers and competitors from last year to connect with us on social media @nettexequine and share their Nettex stories throughout the year - #nettexequine. Qualification for the Nettex Associated Championships got underway on 1 December 2018 and concludes on 31 August, to find out more about how you can get involved click here .

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) continues to closely monitor the equine flu outbreak and notes the latest update from the Animal Health Trust that there have been positive tests in Yorkshire, Sussex, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Kent. Throughout this outbreak the BEF has urged equine owners to ensure their horses' vaccination records are up to date. If it has been longer than six months since their last vaccination we strongly recommend discussing a booster with their veterinary surgeon. The BEF continues to urge all competition and training event organisers to check the equine ID passports of all horses to make sure they comply with vaccination rules (see below). A number of event organisers have put extra precautionary measures in place – as they are perfectly entitled to. The BEF continues to remind all participants that they should check venue requirements before they set out. BD members are reminded to have their passports ready for checking at competitions as full or spot examinations may take place. Please make sure your vaccination record meets the requirements as laid out in rule 9 (see below), if your horse has not had a vaccination within the past six months, we'd urge you to consider discussing a booster with your vet. Please remember that, under BD rules, the full course or booster must have been administered at least seven days before the competition. BD members are reminded: • Any horses competing under BD rules at any level must be fully vaccinated. Rule 9 (p58 of the 2019 Members’ Handbook) states: To protect the health of the other competing horses and the biosecurity of the venue, a valid passport must accompany the horse to all competitions and be produced on request. Failure to comply is a disciplinary offence and will debar the horse from competing at the event for which it has been entered. A horse will not be permitted to compete unless it has a current vaccination against equine influenza which complies with the following conditions: - An initial course of two injections for primary vaccination, not less than 21 days and not more than 92 days apart, are required before being eligible to compete - A first booster injection must be given between 150 and 215 days after the second injection of primary vaccination - Subsequent booster injections must be given at intervals of not more than one calendar year, commencing after the first booster injection - The full course or booster must have been administered at least seven days before the competition. The vaccination record(s) in the horse’s passport, must be completed, signed and stamped line by line, by an appropriate veterinary surgeon (who is neither the owner nor the rider of the horse). For those competing under FEI rules, please refer to FEI rules. The responsibility to comply with this rule lies with the competitor who should consult with their veterinarian. If you're unsure if your vaccination dates are correct, the BHA has a helpful online checker . As stated above, members are advised to give their horses a booster if they have not had one in the previous six months but please remember the seven day rule. • It’s law that your horse’s passport accompanies it at all times, this includes travelling – you’re liable for an unlimited fine if you can’t show a valid horse passport. Currently, we advise that you make sure you have the passport and full vaccination record ready to present at the venue when competing as there may be spot checks carried out. Organisers are permitted to request passports to check vaccinations comply with rule 9. If your horse’s vaccination record does not meet the requirements, you will not be permitted to compete.

 BD Abroad: Nice CDI The following rider has been selected to represent Great Britain this week in the Pony divisions at Nice CDI3*/2*/U25/Y/J/P/Ch-A in France (21 - 24 February 2019). Bonnie Bourne from Ashford, Kent with her own Fin C WE (liver chestnut gelding, 16yrs, 148cm, s. Famos ds. Eiger III). For start lists and results click here

Further information regarding equine movement within the EU in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

22nd Feb 2019 - BEF Equine Flu Update

Opportunity to give a stronger voice to grooms involved in international competition at home and abroad.

More positive tests; British Eventing update their vaccination policy

It’s been a week since the new website went live and since the launch we have seen nearly 250,000 users amassing just under half a million page views. As expected, the peak traffic this week came just after launch with more than 6,500 users on the site between 6pm and 7pm on Friday 15 February.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) continues to closely monitor the equine flu outbreak and notes the latest update from the Animal Health Trust that there have been positive tests in Yorkshire, Sussex, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Kent.

It is with great delight that we can announce Georgina Batting as the new British Eventing Under 18 Chair.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has been preparing for when the UK leaves the European Union on March 29 2019. Although the conditions of the UK’s departure are not yet clear the BEF has been working closely with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as well as vets and other leaders in the equine industry to make sure horse owners are well informed of the preparations they need to make in the event of the UK leaving with No Deal. The government has today issued guidance to owners here . The chief concern for owners will be transportation as there will be significant changes to the way that equines are moved to the EU from the UK. Owners should take steps to prepare for a potential No Deal and should consult a vet at least six weeks before they intend to transport their equine as blood tests will be required to prove the absence of certain diseases. There will also be changes to the documentation required for an equine to travel from the UK to the EU. The BEF and DEFRA have compiled a FAQ on what action owners need to take. This can be found on the BEF website under Brexit. As the conditions under which the UK leaves the EU become clearer, the BEF will continue to work closely with government and provide the most up-to-date information to owners.

The International Competition Grooms Group (ICGG) has been launched to support any groom that works at international level competitions, whether in the UK or abroad. With representatives from each international circuit, the Group gives the opportunity for members to share their concerns and important opinions. The International Reps will work with the British Grooms Association (BGA) to collate, represent and feedback to governing bodies, organising committees and competition organisers - this is the smart and professional way to be heard; giving a united voice at this elite level. In addition the ICGG will also offer support to less experienced competition grooms and give them a friendly representative from their sport, who they can contact to get practical advice and support. The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) President, Ingmar De Vos said, “We welcome the creation of the International Competition Grooms Group, which will give a stronger voice to these incredibly dedicated members of our community. The FEI set up a grooms working group in 2017 and we hope this new international organisation will be fully representative of this important group of people and will enable us to have an even better communication channel direct with the grooms. We look forward to a close collaboration with the ICGG.” Alan Davies, Head Travelling Groom to Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester added, “I am extremely proud to be an Ambassador for the BGA. It is informative and supportive on many levels and always striving to improve all aspects of our lives as grooms. The new International Competition Grooms Group adds another dimension, giving even more support for those of us facing the challenges of travelling the world.” Joining Alan on the team of ICGG Reps for dressage is Heidi Troniseck (Richard Davison), for show jumping Daniel Tarpey (Harry Charles), Zoe Herbert (William Funnell) and Sara Shears (freelance) and heading up the eventing grooms is Jess Errington (Harry Meade) and Debbie Carpenter (freelance). To join the ICGG simply go to www.britishgrooms.org.uk, select a membership option and on check out simply select ‘I groom at international level competitions as part of my job.’ For more information and to join. visit the website .

Moving equines to the EU may change after the 29 March 2019

Harry Charles & William Whitaker join Miami Celtics as the GCL 2019 teams announced

There will be significant changes to the way that equines are moved to the EU and owners should prepare now for a potential No Deal.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has been preparing for when the UK leaves the European Union on 29 March 2019.

Following a further review of our policy regarding vaccinations, British Eventing is implementing an updated vaccination policy across all BE fixtures.

On the busiest week of the winter calendar Bishop Burton College, Yorkshire, took their turn to host the Northern Winter Regional fixture with both local riders, and those from further afield, shining on their route to gaining coveted tickets to the NAF Five Star Winter Championships (16 – 19 February 2019). Enjoying yet another successful Winter Regional Championships, Humberside rider Lara Edwards took home two titles with her 2018 BD Small Tour Champion Jazzed Up, owned and bred by Tracey and Laura Milner. The accomplished duo scored 71.10% to top the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold before going on to complete the set with victory in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold, the score for this test an impressive 73.17%. Jazzed Up, a 10 year old son of Jazz known an ‘Felix’, has clocked up no less than 10 regional titles from Novice to Prix St Georges with Lara in the saddle, who’s produced the gelding from the age of five. Speaking from her Facebook page Lara said, “Weeks like this don’t happen often so I’m going to enjoy it! Advanced Medium Gold CHAMPION, Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold CHAMPION, Prix St Georges Gold reserve Champion (by 1.5 marks - gutted) but what a horse and this is on 1/2 power, had a few teething problems on the run up but still a super star and bring on the nationals in April this boy will be out for a national title!” Patsy Bartram made the journey from Derbyshire worthwhile to also claim a duo of wins with her own six year old, Greenacres Cadiz. The smart black gelding excelled at Elementary level scoring 70.36% to top the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold and subsequently the Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold with a whopping 74.74%. Mr Snowman, competed for a short spell by Patsy in 2018, also notched up a win in the Blue Chip Novice Silver with Charlotte Clark. The charming Irish Draught also took Charlotte’s mother Lesley to third in the KBIS Preliminary Silver. Claire Johnston and Sensation repeated their success at this show in 2018 with another Regional title, this time in the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver. To duo topped the podium convincingly having posted 74.90%, the highest score of the show. The eye-catching black mare by Sir Oldenburg is no stranger to Winter Championship success having won last year’s Blue Chip Novice Silver Championships at Hartpury with amateur rider and full-time mother of three Claire in the saddle. Claire bought her superstar partner as an unbacked three year old and has produced her sympathetically, and successfully through the levels. Hoping to gain qualification spots through to the Gala Performance freestyle finals will be Magic Prix St Georges winner Paul Hayler and Superflex Intermediate I winner Louise Davison. BD Training Director and popular rider/trainer Paul produced a polished performance with Sandra Cowing’s Balero II to win the competitive Prix St Georges qualifier with 69.91%. Whilst Louise excelled in the Superflex Intermediate I on board her reliable Desperados sired partner, De Galles, the pair scored 66.40%. Thanks go to the dedicated team at Bishop Burton, the Winter Championships class sponsors and all involved with another exciting Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part. Regional Champions: KBIS Preliminary Silver Heather Hopkinson with Brackenspa Houdini, 72.82% Blue Chip Novice Silver Charlotte Clark with Mr Snowman, 69.20% Blue Chip Novice Gold Melissa Chapman with Jubilant Al Sno, 73.40% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Charlotte Martin with Briarwood Wild Beauty, 70.37% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Rebecca Bates with Ekko Houston Nexen, 73.61% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Claire Johnston with Sensation, 74.90% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Patsy Bartram with Greenacres Cadiz, 70.36% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Lucy Robinson with Private Dancer V, 71.09% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Patsy Bartram with Greenacres Cadiz, 74.74% TheraPlate UK Medium Silver Jenny Martell with Fiderstan, 69.64% TheraPlate UK Medium Gold Sam Duckworth with Atterupgaards O2, 68.29% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Sophie Young with Atos, 72.67% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Martin Schleicher with Springfern Gardena, 69.17% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Heidi Hutchinson with Ellison, 68.29% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Lara Edwards with Jazzed Up, 71.10% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Anna Brown with Bocelli V, 72.22% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Lara Edwards with Jazzed Up, 73.17% Magic Prix St Georges Gold Paul Hayler with Balero II, 69.91% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Louise Davison with De Galles, 66.40% For full results click here .  Photos kindly provided by Kevin Sparrow - Lara Edwards (top), Patsy Bartram (middle), Claire Johnston (bottom). 

Charlotte Bevan from Flintshire is February?s NAF Shining Star

Please find some useful information regarding the new website below. If you have any other feedback or questions please get in touch with the BE Office using the details below. 

Shaunie Greig claims her third ticket whilst Tatiane Mauree seals her first win in the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Qualifiers at Morris Equestrian Centre

Please find the latest updates about the launch of the new website. 

The 2019 Winter Regional Championships continued last week at Summerhouse Equestrian in Gloucestershire (14 – 16 February 2019) as 20 new Regional Champions were crowned and many came a step closer to their NAF Five Star Winter Championship goals. Birmingham rider Alexzandra Houldcroft (23) claimed two tickets to Hartpury with Cavallina Herself (pictured), her Cardinar x Weltmeyer eight-year-old. The Paul Friday-trained combination achieved second place and a coveted qualification spot in Wednesday’s Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver before winning Sunday’s KBIS Preliminary regional title with a score of 70.23%. Alexzandra’s tactful riding overcame a blip earlier in the week when she retired the young mare from a rather spooky, unsettled Novice Silver test. “We played the test safe after our mishaps on Thursday and it payed off! I couldn’t be any prouder of Cavallina and how much she tries for me! [I] Can’t thank Paul Friday enough, the support and training you put into us, and the team back at Chase lodge!” At the FEI levels, Katie Bailey dominated, winning both the Magic Prix St Georges and the Superflex Intermediate I with two of her exciting rides. The thirty-year-old Gloucestershire rider first took Wednesday’s Magic Prix St Georges regional title on a score of 72.01% aboard Hannah Dovey’s Eagle-Nouvelle (pictured), a Dutch bred 10-year-old son of Singapore; before taking Thursday’s Superflex Intermediate I regional crown with Lesley Forlee’s Bocelli VI (Belissimo M x Riccione) on 71.66%. In their third year of competition together, Katie and ‘Eddie’, as Eagle–Nouvelle is known at home, have been achieving PSG scores of up to plus-74%. Bocelli VI, with whom Katie won the Advanced Medium Silver National title in 2016, is now 12 and training Grand Prix at home. “We had great results at Summerhouse regionals and the sun was shining!” enthused Katie on her Katie Bailey Dressage Facebook . “Two out of three qualifying for the Winter Championships. Eddie getting a fab score 72% to win the PSG. Then Eric [Elinda] second in the Medium with 70% having only ever been to five shows in his life. And finally Bocelli, first in the Inter I with 71.6%. So [it was] a successful outing and [I’m] looking forward to Hartpury!” Katie, who learnt her craft training with and working as stable rider for Carl Hester, set up on her own in 2014 and is now based a stone’s throw from Carl’s Newent home. Laura Wollen (30) who hails from Ledbury in Herefordshire won her ticket for Hartpury by taking the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold aboard Woodcroft Francisco (pictured right). The pair scored 72.833%, just ahead of second-placed Jacky Stopler with her Lusitano stallion, Furo (72.00%). Woodcroft Francisco (Fidertanz x Wolkentanz II) is a nine-year-old gelding owned by Julie Steed. “I had an amazing start today to the 2019 Winter Regionals with Julie Steed’s Woodcroft Francisco becoming Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Regional Champion at Summerhouse Equestrian! With a score of 72.83% Frank has set the bar high.” British Dressage thanks Summerhouse Equestrian, the Winter Championships class sponsors and all involved for a successful Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part. Regional Champions: KBIS Preliminary Silver Alexzandra Houldcroft with Cavallina Herself, 70.23% Blue Chip Novice Silver Sarah Clack with Haybrook Welita, 71.173% Blue Chip Novice Gold Gijs Van Vooren with Hawtins Sandori, 71.667% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver Jocelyn Hill with Foxglove UCS, 74.259% Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Jacky Stolper with Virtuoso G, 78.056% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver – section A Tamsin Hembrough with Sancerre, 73.333% Equi-Trek Elementary Silver – section B Sarah Clack with Polo’s Discovery, 71.979% Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Sonnar Murray-Brown with Hamlet, 74.792% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver Jayne Chapman with Life on Mars, 71.987% Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold Maria Griffin with Cerruti, 75.769% TheraPlate Medium Silver Hazel McCorriston with Blue Hors Zagato, 69.369% TheraPlate Medium Gold Sonnar Murray-Brown with Hamlet, 70.829% Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver Rebecca Marsden with Fiorello, 76.667% Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold Maria Griffin with Cerruti, 72.722%% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver Tyler Bradshaw with Gijsbert, 69.386% Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold Abigail Hutton with Farrell, 70.351% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver Jane Morris with Quinet Du Buisson Z, 73.33% Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold Laura Wollen with Woodcroft Francisco, 72.833% Magic Prix St Georges Gold Katie Bailey with Eagle Nouvelle, 72.018% Superflex Intermediate I Gold Katie Bailey with Bocelli VI, 71.667% For full results click here

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) notes that the Animal Health Trust (AHT) has reported more positive tests for equine flu over the weekend in Shropshire, Worcestershire, Norfolk and Buckinghamshire. Sixteen horses returned positive tests at one premises in Worcestershire. The AHT reports that this is thought to be related to unvaccinated horses coming into contact with other horses at an event. The BEF continues to recommend strongly that unvaccinated horses do not mix with other horses. Our advice remains that owners MUST NOT take their horse to an event or competition if horses at their yard appear to be unwell. The current outbreak has demonstrated the importance of vaccinations and the BEF continues to urge all owners to ensure that their vaccination records are up to date. If it has been longer than 6 months since the last vaccination, we strongly recommend discussing a booster with their veterinary surgeon. The BEF has asked all competition and training event organisers to check the equine ID passports of all horses attending their event to make sure that they comply with vaccination rules. A number of affiliated venues have put extra precautionary measures in place regarding flu vaccinations. We would also remind participants that they should check venue requirements before setting out. BD members are reminded to have their passports ready for checking at competitions as full or spot examinations may take place. Please make sure your vaccination record meets the requirements as laid out in rule 9 and as stated above, if you're horse has not had a vaccination within the last six months, we'd urge you to consider discussing a booster with your vet. Please remember that, under BD rules, there must be seven days between any injection and the horse competing.

Entries open for Royal Bath & West Show

18th February 2019 ? BEF Equine Flu latest update

Zebra Products sign up to support the British Showjumping Business Partnership for a fourth year

Ellen Whitaker takes top three placing in Vilamoura

BEF warns against unvaccinated horses mixing; some venues now introducing extra precautionary measures

Please find the latest updates about the launch of the new website. 

On any mobile device, please ensure that it has been updated with the latest software available.

As a result of the current Equine Flu situation, a number of BE event venues have made the decision to put in extra precautionary measures and protocols with regards to flu vaccinations. British Eventing members will therefore need to ensure that they are abiding with these extra protocols if they are planning on competing at these venues.

We want to thank everyone who has taken the time to pass on their feedback since the launch of the website, all comments, issues and questions that have been received in to the office, over the phone or via email, have been logged and will be dealt with as soon as possible. 

Please find the latest updates about the launch of the new website. 

Following the removal of the map search function under horse profiles, the horse search is now live again.

We can now announce revised dates for the Bronze Championships and Summer Music Festival. Both Championships will remain at Sheepgate as originally announced but their August calendar will now look like: 1 -2 August  Petplan Equine Area Festival 3– 4 August  Bronze Championships 19 – 24 August  U25 Championships 26 – 28 August  Summer Music Festiva l Sport Operations Manager Lou Jones commented; “With such a busy summer calendar, this has been a difficult task but thanks must go to the team at Sheepgate who’ve been very accommodating. There isn’t one spell where there won’t be a date clash in the national calendar but we’ve looked carefully and arrived at dates which will affect the fewest competitors. Where there is a clash, there are alternatives for competitors to consider. August is going to be a very busy month at Sheepgate but we look forward to working with them to deliver four great competitions.” The major dates list has been updated as has Sheepgate’s Petplan Equine Area Festival schedule .

15th February 2019 UPDATE FROM THE BEF

More positive Equine Flu tests; BEF urges organisers to check attending horses' vaccination records

It is with huge excitement that the brand new British Eventing website is now live.

Kelsall Hill Horse Trials are delighted to announce that Protect My Income will be their headline sponsor for both of their 2019 BE fixtures taking place on 19 – 21 April and 27 – 29 September 2019.

Due to the continued growth of the British Eventing Under 18 Programme, BE currently has a contractor vacancy for an Under 18 Regional Coach in the North . This is an exciting opportunity for a BE Accredited Coach to be involved in one of British Eventing’s biggest  and most influential Youth Programmes, and join the team that delivers training to support and develop under 18 riders.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) notes the latest update from the Animal Health Trust (follow @equiflunet on Twitter for more details) reporting more positive tests for equine flu in Sussex, Worcestershire and Leicestershire. The BEF continues to urge horse owners to be vigilant for signs of equine flu and to alert their vet if they think their horses are showing symptoms. As has been demonstrated in this outbreak, vaccinations are vital in tackling the spread of the disease so all owners MUST ensure their vaccination records are up to date. If it’s been longer than six months since the last vaccination, we strongly recommend discussing a booster with their veterinary surgeon. The BEF notes that some venues are insisting – as they are perfectly entitled to – that all horses must have received a booster within the last six months. This is a decision based on a local veterinary risk assessment so we would remind participants to check the requirements of venues before they set off. We also remind owners that any contact with recently imported horses represents an increased risk so owners should follow veterinary advice by isolating any recently imported horse for a period of at least 21 days. BD members are reminded to have their passports ready for checking at competitions as full or spot examinaitons may take place.  Please make sure your vaccination record meets the requirements as laid out in rule 9 and as stated above, if you're horse has not had a vaccination within the last six months, we'd urge you to consider disscusing a booster with your vet. 

14th Feb 2019 - BEF UPDATE ON EQUINE FLU

New Members? Upgrade at Bolesworth International

More positive tests; Owners should check with venues as some require horses to be vaccinated in the last 6 months.

As a result of the current Equine Flu situation, a number of BE event venues have made the decision to put in extra precautionary measures and protocols with regards to flu va