News
Posted on May 26th, 2015
Laura Leads the Way in Bethune
Britain’s leading international female showjumper, Laura Renwick from Maldon in Essex, scooped both the Leading Rider and Leading Lady Rider Awards at the CSI3* in Bethune, France after a stylish win in yesterday’s Grand Prix.
With her own and John Renwick’s 9 year-old bay gelding Bintang II, Laura lived up to her Queen of Speed title after the combination produced a blistering jump off round in the CSI3* Bethune 1.50m Grand Prix to secure the top spot with a double clear in 42.26 seconds.
Laura and Bintang II fought off the challenge from fifty-nine other combinations to take home the lion’s share of the €45,000 prize pot and in a seven horse jump off, they took the win with a second and a half to spare.
Spectators were given much to celebrate after home riders finished up in second, third and fourth place. Nicolas Delmotte and Darmani van’t Heik were Laura and Bintang’s nearest rivals following a double clear performance in 43.82 seconds. Alexandra Francart with Quelstar Du Vic Bi and Alexandra Paillot with Polias De Blondel took third and fourth, also with double clears, in 45.62 seconds and 45.93 seconds respectively.
Ben Maher delivered the last of the double clears with Jane Clark’s 9 year-old bay mare Sarena II to finish in fifth on 47.92 seconds.
Posted on May 26th, 2015
A ‘Superstar’ performance at the Redwings Show!
From novice horses and riders to veterans, heavy horses to Shetlands, the 2015 Redwings Show proved a great day enjoyed by all.
On Sunday 17th May, Redwings Horse Sanctuary welcomed over 125 competitors to their annual show at Topthorn Equestrian Centre in Suffolk. Participants competed in more than 50 classes including TARRA, DBS affiliated and the highly anticipated heavy horse classes – a first for the Redwings Show, now in its sixth year.
The 2015 Supreme Championship went to Amelia Short and her impressive nine-year-old hunter Cairnside Houdini (pictured below). “He’s a superstar!” commented Amelia. “Today is only the fourth time we’ve jumped together, I’m so happy” – and amazingly the pair have only been partnered since February this year. As well as being Working Hunter Champions, they also took the Open Working Hunter over 15hh class under judge Fiona Hirst.
Hallie Booty with her Highland Macallumdene were Reserve Champions overall; they took the Mountain and Moorland Large Breeds class and were Ring One champions as judged by Adam Pike. Ring One reserve champions Anna Chaplin and Primitive Poirot also had a great show this year having placed first in all four of their classes – Riding Horses and Coloured/Palomino/Spots in Ring One, and Coloured Working Hunter Horse/Pony and Working Show Horse in Ring Five.
The Best Condition Championship went to Leanne Shadbolt and her beautiful nineteen-year-old mare Knavesgreen Honey Pippin. The pair had a fantastic show having placed first in the Veteran Ridden class, the Ridden Part Breeds class and Veteran In-Hand class. Clearly delighted by her beautifully turned-out mare, Leanne said: “Although we’ve been a partnership for two years, this is our first season out together and I am just so proud of her!”
Classes aimed at novice riders in Ring Two and judged by Aaron Foster proved hugely popular this year with the championship taken by Victoria Hawkes and Monarchill Cercean, and reserve Chantelle Foulger with Dora. Another stand-out pairing in Ring Two was Wootton Heath Breeze and rider Joanne Cann who won the Novice Rider Walk and Trot class and the Novice Handler class.
Ring Three was host to our ever-popular fun classes and were judged by Redwings’ Head of Veterinary and Care Nicky Jarvis, who enjoyed the event as much as the competitors. Among notable winners Prettiest Mare Trefelwind Kiss Me Kate, Longest Mane and Tail Teddy Bear (who also had a suitably impressive moustache to boot) and My Best Friend Parlington Uhlan, was the glorious Hartscrest Buccaneer (otherwise known as Basil) who with Ruth Everard won Best Condition Ridden.
Ring Four saw the introduction of one of the two new heavy horse classes for 2015 with Clydesdale Mac taking Heavy Horse In-Hand and reserve Ring Four Championship. The Ring Four Championship went to Melin Papur Heaven Sent and Aaron Calver as judged by Janet Smithers.
The donkey classes, judged by Jane Etheridge, were as popular as ever this year with the championship going to Wendy Sawyer’s two-year-old stallion Justa Cuzican who was the winner of the Youngstock class, while reserve was the winning mare East Lodge Daisy with handler Diana Dunstan.
Commenting on the super turnout of this year’s Redwings Show, organiser Emma Lacey said: “Each year I am amazed by sheer the number of competitors who take part in the show, the high standard of entries and by how many people want to support Redwings in everything that we do. We’ve received some fantastic feedback already and I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the competitors, judges, sponsors and Redwings team members for making this year’s show another great success. Bring on 2016!”
Posted on May 7th, 2015
Suffolk Showjumper Nick Benterman Wins the CSI 2* Chepstow International Big Tour Grand Prix
Nick Benterman from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk with his consistent 11 year-old bay gelding Zorland D Volo were victorious in the CSI 2* Chepstow International Big Tour Grand Prix hosted at Wales and West on Sunday 3rd May.
“He’s part of the family and the nicest person,” said Nick, on his Dutch-bred gelding, “He deserved this win. Now we hope to move up in the sport.”
Course-builder Alan Wade achieved six clears from fifty-five entries – and a further seven jumped clear but incurred a solitary time fault.
“The course was difficult, but Alan did a good job, no-one had a disaster and it needed a careful horse to jump clear,” said Nick.
Posted on May 5th, 2015
Stand Up For Horse Health and Take Simple Survey
Leading equestrian organisations are appealing to all horse owners and keepers in the UK to stand up for horse health between 18 – 25 May 2015 and participate in the National Equine health Survey (NEHS). It’s a short, sharp snapshot survey of general horse health that is already helping to make an important difference to the future health and welfare of horses and ponies.
The National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) is run annually by leading charity Blue Cross, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association and with the support of many of the country’s leading equestrian charities and organisations. It’s the only project of its kind enabling horse owners to give anonymous feedback about the health of their horses, ponies and donkeys so that the most common diseases and problems be identified, prioritised and addressed.
NEHS is a charitable initiative that has now been running for five years. Its value has attracted support from SPILLERS and Zoetis, which has helped it to continue to grow and deliver results. Participation increased threefold last year, with data collected from over 11,002 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in the UK, showing the nation’s enthusiasm to help improve horse health.
The results are helping to steer awareness, education and research, establishing benchmarks for equine health and disease in the UK and defining priorities for future research, training and education. Equine and veterinary colleges and universities also use the data as primary source material.
Gemma Taylor, Education Officer at Blue Cross said: “We are renowned as a nation of horse lovers so sparing five minutes of your time is surely not too much to ask? Each and every one of you who completes the survey will be helping to secure a healthier future for our precious horses and ponies so please help us and sign up now.”
Visit www.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS now or email NEHS@bluecross.org.uk to register.
