News
Posted on December 8th, 2022
CAMBS: Professional dressage rider jailed for neglecting young competition horses
A Grand Prix level dressage rider was sentenced at court recently after he was found guilty last month of causing suffering to and neglecting five young horses who were in his care.
Sam Duckworth (DOB 06/07/1980) of Newmarket Road, Cambridgeshire – appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on 6th December.
Duckworth was given an immediate 18 week custodial sentence after he was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to five young horses that were in his care.
The professional dressage rider was also given a lifetime ban from keeping all animals with no appeal for five years. He was also ordered to pay £68,860 in costs.
An 11 day trial concluded on Wednesday 9th November, where the court found Mr Duckworth guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to five young horses that were in his care – two bay fillies, a chestnut colt, a chestnut filly, and a bay colt – by failing to investigate and address the cause of the animals poor bodily condition and weight loss.
He was also found guilty of failing to take steps to meet the needs of the same five horses, after failing to provide an adequate parasitic control plan, required farriery, a suitable diet and failing to seek veterinary attention in respect of the animals’ poor condition.
After Duckworth was found guilty last week, RSPCA inspector and equine officer Suzi Smith said: “As an experienced horsewoman, it is very difficult for me to see any horses in such poor condition, especially for these youngsters who have been given such a poor start in life, when they should have been receiving professional care”.
“It’s very upsetting when owners and those caring for animals, don’t take the necessary steps to meet the needs of the animals in their care, and suffering occurs as a result. It’s even more frustrating when the person responsible has been provided with all the necessary advice from a veterinary surgeon and that advice is not followed”.
In their witness statement, the veterinary surgeon who examined the horses summarised his findings by stating: ‘The body condition score of the five animals was unacceptably low and the animals were caused suffering. In my opinion, the cause of the poor body condition score was due to a combination of a heavy worm burden and malnutrition / starvation.’
They also noted in their witness statement that ‘the poor body condition score had been brought to the owner’s attention in October 2020 and he allegedly followed veterinary advice, which included advice on worming and feeding. If the advice had been followed, then a definite improvement in the body condition score would have been expected over this two month period. Furthermore, if there was no improvement then further veterinary advice should have been sought, which did not appear to happen. On the basis of these timings, I conclude that on 12 January 2021 these animals have been caused suffering for at least six weeks.’
Posted on December 6th, 2022
Christmas on the Yard
Taking care of horses doesn’t stop for Christmas so Robinson Animal Healthcare caught up with their team of sponsored riders to find out what Christmas on the yard is like for them.
Sophie Wells
“The horses have Christmas Day off and I usually give my grooms the day off too. I’m up early to get the horses fed and mucked out and then they all go on the treadmill. Christmas Day is all about juggling horses and food!”
Bubby Upton
“It’s important for me to make the most of the Christmas period as it is the only time that both myself and the horses get to enjoy some down time. All the horses on the yard get Christmas Day off, so we do the yard jobs in the morning before I get to enjoy the rest of the day with my family.”
Louisa Milne Home
“This Christmas we have my brother and sister, plus their wife/husband and children coming up to stay with my Mum and Dad, so that will be lovely. On Christmas Day we normally do stockings first thing then go out and feed up, muck out, and put all the horses out in the field. On Christmas Day the horses usually go out with a bit of tinsel on their rugs.
“This means the horses can have a nice full day out in the field so we can enjoy Christmas, before bringing them back in at 3pm for a change of rug and feed and then we are all set for Christmas Dinner. Finally we do a check on the horses just to wish them a last happy Christmas and give them their late feed.”
McNab Eventing
Event rider’s Kevin and Emma McNab will be celebrating Christmas in their native Australia but the team on the yard will be keeping the winter routine going over the festive period and will be enjoying a big team Christmas lunch.
Laura Goodall
“Christmas Day on the yard is usually a rushed one. We normally have an early start to get all the yard done and finished before starting to prepare for when all the family come around for Christmas lunch. If the weather permits the horses usually get a day off to chill in the field and an extra treat (usually carrots) in their dinner.”
Robinson Animal Healthcare has a wide range of products for all your first aid requirements including the market-leading Animalintex and the legendary Veterinary Gamgee.
For more information contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonhealthcare.com
Posted on December 5th, 2022
EVJ editorial underlines why it’s vital to revert to bi-annual flu boosters
As equine influenza (EI) vaccine supply returns to normal, following a significant shortage, and just at a time when the UK is seeing an increase in EI activity, epidemiology experts are advising that there is sound scientific evidence as to why bi-annual vaccination schedules should be promptly re-implemented. The Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) has published a special early view article reviewing the science behind the enhanced EI vaccination schedules, in particular the replacement of annual boosters with a mandatory bi-annual vaccination programme.
EI is a highly contagious respiratory disease which remains endemic in the horse populations across numerous countries and infection is characterised by rapid spread and significant morbidity in the immunologically naive. With the introduction of mandatory EI vaccination by most competitive equestrian disciplines after the early 1980s, the scale and number of outbreaks have in most years been relatively small. However, disease events such as those experienced in the UK in 1989, 2003 and most recently in 2019 have demonstrated EI’s epidemic potential, even in vaccinated horse populations.
In their article Equine influenza bi-annual boosters: what does the evidence tell us? Victoria Colgate and Richard Newton build on the work recently published by Fleur Whitlock and colleagues in; An epidemiological overview of the equine influenza epidemic in Great Britain during 2019. They discuss what has been learnt from previous outbreaks and explain the evidence from mathematical models to show why bi-annual boosters are beneficial.
Epidemiological data from previous natural EI outbreaks have repeatedly demonstrated the impermanent nature of the protection provided by vaccination and observational field studies repeatedly highlight the potential for 12-monthly boosters to leave a vulnerable immunity gap at both the individual animal and population level. Mathematical models of EI transmission confirm that six-monthly rather than annual EI booster vaccinations are preferable to establish and maintain effective population level immunity to EI.
Ideally vaccine strains should be updated in a timely manner to ensure inclusion of the most epidemiologically-relevant strains, however, this is a slow and expensive process for equine vaccine manufacturers. In the absence of updated vaccine strains, bi-annual vaccination is strongly recommended to help compensate for antigenic drift between vaccine and circulating EI viral strains.
“The equine industry must surely remain resolute and guided by scientific principles,” said the authors. “The clear evidence from experimental, epidemiological and mathematical modelling studies shows why we must encourage clients to revert to a schedule of bi-annual boosters.”
“We must also remind horse owners that animals already on six-monthly vaccination regimes were best positioned for the vaccine shortage with a built-in tolerance in their vaccination schedule; their levels of immunological protection would not be expected to decline to susceptible levels, even with a slight delay before being re-vaccinated.”
“Although the recent EI vaccine shortage has necessitated a temporary relaxation of competition vaccine schedules, we must now renew the message that six-monthly boosters are optimal and necessary,” said Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ.
The Editorial can be found at https://beva.onlinelibrary.
Two related articles can be found here: https://beva.onlinelibrary.
Photo: Fiona Williams
Posted on December 5th, 2022
When does use become abuse with horses?
Society’s values are changing, animal welfare is becoming an ever-higher priority and some aspects of the horse/human relationship have recently come under the spotlight. Trying to identify and defining where use of horses becomes abuse were just some of the themes explored at World Horse Welfare’s 25th conference held at the Royal Geographical Society in London recently and broadcast virtually worldwide.
Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare introduced a thought-provoking and fascinating series of talks by international speakers: “Society is increasingly suspicious of traditional uses of animals and, thanks to science, we know more especially about what horses need and how what we do impacts on them.” he said.
“Today our focus is on leading the debate on what can be done to establish an even stronger horse/human relationship, and a fairer partnership. This applies to all the horses we help – be they horses in need, sport and leisure horses or horses used in work and production.”
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, World Horse Welfare President and participant at all 25 of the charity’s conferences, summed up the event by highlighting the complexity of the topic, but also reminded the audience that horses and humans had been together for thousands of years, and horses have been bred during that time to exist with us, working together.
The first session illustrated the diverse range of uses that horses have around the world. Mark Wentein, Chair of the European Horse Network, began with an exploration of the roles of the more than seven million equids in Europe. He highlighted the Bruges horse cab service as an example where welfare of the horses has been central to the industry’s development. “Horses have a long tradition in working, but there hasn’t always been a good reputation on welfare, however, much has changed with new regulations and new ways of operating” he said. “Today there is a professional cab service for Bruges tourists. These are supervised by city and official vets and are advised by animal welfare groups.”
Tamara Tadich, Associate Professor at Universidad Austral de Chile examined working horses and their relationship with the many millions of people globally who rely on them. Despite many peoples’ assumptions, Tamara said: “Most working equid caretakers are aware of their equid’s needs. They try their best to keep their working animals in the best condition that they can. If they don’t have a horse, they cannot work. Most owners understand that they need an equid in good welfare to work and maintain their livelihood. And most consider their horses as part of the family so they don’t want their animals in bad condition and that is also something that we need to acknowledge.” She also pointed out that the welfare of working equids and their caretakers are interlinked and animal welfare cannot be considered on its own or from a single point of view. Tamara also pointed out that, despite not being explicitly identified in any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, working horses are integral to at least six of them.
Matt Brown, US five-star eventer, tackled an area that may be more familiar to many in the audience: training and riding horses for sport and leisure. He likened the current social licence movement in horse sport to the #MeToo movement: “Things that used to be common practice and done in a not-so-secret way, maybe behind closed doors or behind the barn are not acceptable anymore. Instead of trying to defend some of those common practices, we need to do better for the horses. We need to be willing to call out that behaviour when we see it”
After the morning break, two talks from outside the equestrian world gave a different perspective and proved food for thought. Lee Cain, Founder of Charlesbye Strategy and previously Director of Communications at No. 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, emphasised the importance of understanding what the wider public believes: “If you are going to change public opinion you need to understand other things to begin with. You need to use research, where are they on your particular issue and think critically, why do they think that?” Referring to social licence and equestrianism he said: “You can either shy away from these issues or turn these risks into opportunities.”
Claire Bessant, former CEO of International Cat Care then explored use versus abuse in a different species. With some species-specific differences there was a significant overlap in issues and perception and Claire pointed at the tendency to anthropomorphise animals: “People want to cuddle with their pets, even if their pets don’t want it. It’s not the cat’s choice to be a pet, it’s our choice. We need to be honest about what are cats’ needs and what are human needs”
A discussion panel consisting of Dr Sarah Coombs, Vet and World Horse Welfare Trustee; Dr Amber Batson, Vet; Professor Christine Middlemiss MRCVS, Chief Veterinary Officer; Bluebell Brown, Royal Veterinary College and Lee Mottershead, Senior Writer, Racing Post and chaired by Nick Powell, Sports Editor, Sky News considered a number of questions with wide-ranging discussions touching on all the topics raised during the morning’s talks. Bluebell Brown brought the discussions together by saying: “We need to come together and collaborate as an industry, but also listen to outside views as well and take these onboard and keep doing the research”
Summing up the conference, Roly Owers acknowledged that this is a complex topic and that there are no clear-cut answers: less black and white but more shades of grey. Traditional equestrian practices had been mentioned several times and Roly cautioned: “We shouldn’t always think that tradition is bad and new fads are good, it is not that simple…but we need to invest in the research and we do need to be open-minded, to challenge the status quo and where change needs to be made, we make it.”
World Horse Welfare would like to thank the headline sponsor of the Conference, The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, and the event’s other supporters, the Horseracing Betting Levy Board and Equine Register for their pivotal involvement in helping make the Conference possible.
The conference was also broadcast with Spanish and French subtitles and the entire conference will be available HERE to watch at any time.
Posted on November 17th, 2022
NEW SHOWING SERIES ANNOUNCED WITH FINALS AT LONDON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW
At the Annual Conference of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), organisers of The London International Horse Show announced an exciting new Showing Series to run in 2023 with finals taking place at the renowned annual Christmas horse show in London in December.
The organisers have worked with the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) and ASAO, to create a joint series that consists of 23 different classes which will be held at ASAO member shows including BSHA Rising Star classes for Hunters, Hacks, Cobs, Riding Horses and Show Horses and BSPS classes for Performance Ponies including Coloured Ponies, Mountain and Moorland Lead Rein, Working Sports Ponies, and Cradle and Nursery Stakes Working Hunter Pony classes which give the youngest riders the chance to qualify for the first time for a major indoor final.
The emphasis on this new series is to be inclusive with a focus on the amateur competitor, encouraging them to compete at their local agricultural and county show. Entrants for the classes will not have to be an association/society member to compete in the qualifying classes but would have to join the relevant association/society if they reach the final. It is expected that this open invitation will encourage many more competitors to ‘have a go’ at their local show.
The BSHA classes are Rising Stars classes and are performance led with all participants completing a timed freestyle show on the day. The classes are open to amateur BSHA members and non-members.
The BSPS classes are not restricted to amateurs however the majority of the classes are performance classes. For example, the Lead Rein Class will have obstacles and small jumps.
As well as making the classes more inclusive, the ambition is to make the classes more interesting and informative for the public. Commentators will be encouraged to explain the classes to the watching public, describing what is required of the competitor and what the public should be looking out for. The intention being to engender a higher level of interest in Showing.
The full list of classes is below, and Agricultural and County Show organisers have until early January 2023 to apply to run classes.
Simon Brooks-Ward, Event Director for London International Horse Show said; “It has been a long-held ambition to add more Showing to London International Horse Show and we are very excited to be launching this Showing Series. The space that the ExCeL London venue offers means that we are able to put a new arena alongside our existing arena which allows us to accommodate this series. We are delighted to be working with the ASAO, BSHA and BSPS, as many will know, the BSPS already successfully hold the Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championships at the London Show.”
Paul Cook of BSPS said; “We are convinced that there is going to be a great appetite for these classes. We are determined to introduce a new style of showing which is much more inclusive for the competitor and educational and entertaining for the audience. Having the Mountain and Moorland Championships already at London means that we know that this venue will work brilliantly for this new Showing Series, and it will give a great day out for the competitors and their families who reach the final.”
Nigel Hollings of BSHA said; “We are very excited by the new Rising Stars series and the finals taking place at The London International Horse Show. We know this will be very well received by our existing members and the wider showing community, with the series very much focusing on making competing easy and educational, encouraging more to join in and have a go.”
David Tite Chairman of the ASAO said; “This is a great opportunity for our members to have a new showing series at their event. We are encouraged that this series has emphasis on inclusion and entertainment and will mean that local competitors can enjoy entering their local agricultural and county shows and it will prove entertaining for the watching crowds”.
Posted on November 16th, 2022
Search for a Star at Your Horse Live
Lead Rein Section A takes the SEIB Search for a Star championship title at Your Horse Live
The winner of the inaugural Pony Club SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live lead rein final, Thistledown Elpaso and his seven-year-old rider Emily Hiscox took the top title at the SEIB Search for a Star Championship in the main SEIB arena at Your Horse Live on the 12th November. Finn Williamson and Kirsty Wilson’s dark bay mare Port Lou Lou took the in-hand championship title.
Champions of all shapes and sizes were crowned across eleven finals at the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Your Horse Live Championship at Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on Friday 11th November. The winners of ten of the championship classes went forward for the first ever Search for a Star Your Horse Live championship on Saturday the 12th November.
North Warwickshire Pony Club member, Emily Hiscox and her mother, Heather Hiscox’s, Welsh section A pony, Thistledown Elpaso won the Search for a Star Pony Club lead rein championship at Your Horse Live on the Friday before returning for Saturday’s overall championship. Their Saturday performance was foot perfect and Emily finished by showing her fabulous balance and her pony’s steadfastness by standing up on his back for a few seconds. Judge Katie Jerram-Hunnable said: “It was a unanimous decision from the judges, myself, Chris Hunnable and Matthew Lawrence. The grey pony’s show was exceptional.” Heather said: “We didn’t think for a moment we’d be in with a chance of winning the Pony Club final. Today I was shaking in the ring! Emily has been up since 5.30 this morning and Elvis is meant to be going to a Pony Club rally tomorrow, although I think we might give him a day off!” Emily added: “I wanted to stand up on his back today and mummy said I could. I would like to do some vaulting on Elvis next!” Heather continued: “We have owned Elvis for three years and he has plenty of variety in his life from pony club camp, to hacking to jumping. He is Emily’s little unicorn and will be going back out in the field tonight – with no hood!” Seven-year-old Emily is a pupil at Leamington Hastings Church of England Academy in Rugby.
Pony Club Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Capel said: “We are absolutely delighted that the inaugural Pony Club Search for a Star has been such a success. It was wonderful to see all the members and parents here enjoying this fabulous show and for a Pony Club member to go on and win the supreme is just the icing on the cake, thank you to SEIB for giving our members this opportunity and I look forward to next year.”
Another young rider took the in-hand SEIB Search for a Star championship at Your Horse Live. Finn is fifteen-years-old. He said: “I have been so nervous this week. It was amazing to win yesterday and then she was brilliant today. We cracked on and it all went brilliantly. Search for a Star has been such a good experience for us and she loves showing! I’ve got my GCSE’s coming up next year and we hope to do some intermediate classes. After the great time we’ve had this season we think showing is her thing!” Finn and Port Lou Lou were Search for a Star HOYS finalists in the riding horse hack championship at Horse of the Year show last month. Finn is a student at Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield. Conformation judge Matthew Lawrence said of Port Lou Lou: “As soon as this mare entered the ring I thought she was a great type. She has a lovely way of going with fabulous cadence and has been beautifully produced by her enthusiastic handler.”
Your Horse Live Director Emma Bedford said: “We have been so excited to welcome Pony Club Search for a Star this year to Your Horse Live. It is great to see so many young aspiring riders giving showing a go and enjoying the experience. We are delighted to see Search for a Star at Your Horse Live growing and becoming an integral part of our Friday programme.”
Founder of Search for a Star, SEIB’s Marketing Manager, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “You simply couldn’t beat the atmosphere at the Search for a Star Your Horse Live championship this year. Our competitors were so enthusiastic and grateful and both our team and the Your Horse Live team ensured everything ran seamlessly. This year we have more than doubled from five to eleven championship classes and it has been a delight to see. We are thrilled to welcome The Pony Club to Search for a Star and the inaugural championship really has been a true success.”
FRIDAY SEIB Search for a Star Championship classes at Your Horse Live
The first championship final of the day encompassed the five classes that make up the SEIB Search for a Star in-hand championships. Twenty-two horses and ponies and their handlers entered the main SEIB Arena en-masse. Many different types were represented, from Dartmoor ponies, through hunters and thoroughbreds right up to the first ever Shire finalist at Search for a Star. Each finalist completed a go-round in walk before lining up and coming out for individual conformation assessment followed by trotting-up for the judges. Detailed commentary was provided by Spencer Sturmey and judges, Matthew Lawrence, Chris Hunnable and Katie Jerram-Hunnab.
The first winner to be announced was the in-hand veteran which went to Lucy Ashworth and her own twenty-four-year-old bay gelding, Randall IV. This showjumper still competes to 1m 30 level and also qualified in the plaited horse Search for a Star in-hand final. A delighted Lucy said: “I have been really ill, I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer in November last year and didn’t think I’d be showing this year. It is just brilliant to have got my life back a bit. Randall was an ex-international showjumper and he is still ridden and does everything. When I bought him, I went to see an ex-racehorse and ended up coming home with Randall !”
The largest horse in the championship, Shire mare, Milnerfield Lady Isabelle won the in-hand native and traditional Search for a Star championship for her handler, Lucy Parr. Issy, as the mare is known is everything to Lucy who said: “All I wanted 
when I came along to the Search for a Star qualifier was to get her out and help raise the profile of the breed. We have achieved so much more, we put in plenty of time and effort and Issy is so versatile. She rides, drives and hopefully we will also breed from her.” There were just 250 Shire foals registered in 2021 with around 800 breeding mares. Denise Badger from the Bickers Court Stud who is Lucy and Issy’S main cheerleader explained: “There is a push to expand the gene pool of the Shire horse, more artificial insemination means access to more stallions. The Search for a Star series is really opening up showing of Shires to both younger and more inexperienced people. It would be fabulous if people can learn from what Lucy has been out and done.”
The in-hand mountain and moorland winner at Your Horse Live, Lachlann of Croila Croft, had traveled all the way down from the Scottish Highlands with his owner and handler, Judith Hogg. Lachlann of Croila Croft is only five years old. Judith said: “He has never seen anything like this before! He was broken in this spring and has been to several outside shows. We realised at the beginning of this week that he is scared of clapping so had to quickly remedy that.” Lachlann of Croila Croft is also broken to traditional hill work in the Highlands. Judith continued: “His hill work involves carrying hinds and fallows down the hill to the larder. It is a very traditional thing to do and ensures the hill is looked after. There aren’t many places that this still takes place. He will have a short holiday now and then carry out some more hill work through the winter.” Judith and Lachlann of Croila Croft also competed in the ridden Mountain and Moorland championship at Your Horse Live where they finished in second place.
Bay mare, Ryehill Petit Ami won the in-hand plaited pony championship for her handler Lisa Hayyez. Five-year-old Ryehill Petit Ami has been owned by Lisa since last May. Lisa said: “I am over the moon with her today, this is her first proper season going to shows and even to qualify was amazing! We came today with no expectations and as a schooling exercise. Search for a Star has helped give her a really good grounding in the show ring. We plan to bring her out as a lead rein pony next year and this will have helped her experience hugely.”
Next in the arena were the Pony Club Search for a Star classes. A total of sixteen ponies traveled from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales for the first ever Pony Club Search for a Star, Your Horse Live championship over the three finals classes.
The first ridden Search for a Star Pony Club championship went to Rufford Pony Club member Emily Elliott and her roan pony, Larchgrove Isabella. Owned by Connie Elliott, Issy as the pony is known at home is a Welsh Section B. Connie said: “She is such a lovely pony, Issy and Emily have done everything from galloping on a racecourse at camp to veteran championships and working hunter pony classes.” The Elliott’s have owned Issy for just over a year. Connie added: “She is such a polite pony, Emily would love to start to ride her side saddle next year.” Nine-year-old Emily is a pupil at Muskham Primary school in Newark.
In the open Pony Club Search for a Star championship, Mid Surrey member, Helena Kitchener riding Naomi Kitchener’s grey Connemara, Cavan Mick took the win. Helena said: “What an amazing experience, we still have borrowed gear for this but it is fine! Mick wasn’t all that forward going at the start of the year so we’ve had a few showing lessons with help getting him forward. Search for a Star has been great, through the showing I’ve learned to ride with two reins and go through trotting up practice. He is such a patient pony. We will spend the winter arena eventing and we will have another go at Search for a Star next year.” Helena also competes in tetrathlon with Mick and the pair competed at the Pony Club championships this year finishing in the top 20%.
Katie Jerram-Hunnable continued: “It is fantastic that The Pony Club are encouraging showing, the Pony Club Search for a Star series is a major step forward and it is all thanks to Nicolina and SEIB for getting the championship in motion, it couldn’t be better. I am so pleased to see the versatility of these ponies and the diversity of entrants at this Search for a Star championship. The in-hand final at Your Horse Live was such a spectacle with all these different animals in the ring together. I think the only breed we didn’t have was a Shetland! It was lovely for the spectators to have the live commentary too. I would strongly encourage amateur riders with an interest in showing to give Search for a Star a go. The team offer so much support and enthusiasm to the many competitors.”
Maia Ellis and her own part-bred Welsh cross traditional cob black mare, Furlong Socks won the part-bred traditional Search for a Star Your Horse Live championship. Maia said: “I am just delighted! It was a three hour journey and she has been settled since we got here. She went so well in the ring today, I am just shocked and can’t believe we have won. Just getting here is a massive achievement.” Maia has owned twelve-year-old Sox since she was four. Maia works as an apprentice hairdresser and she and Sox also compete in cross country, dressage and fun rides.
The first Your Horse Live Search for a Star championship took place in 2018 for Mountain and Moorlands, and now, four years on, the championship has become a true amateur mountain and moorland goal. Natalie Pastor and her lovely chestnut, New Forest gelding, Langorra Ginger Port were convincing winners of this competitive final. Natalie said: “Anything was a bonus today, he has been a star. When they started reading out the results in reverse order, I realised we were in the top three and was so delighted when we won!” Natalie and her homebred, Langorra Ginger Port last month won the SEIB Search for a Star Working Pony final at Horse of the Year Show. She continued: “It was always the plan to breed from our lovely mare. We bred two foals from her while I was away at uni, the other one went to Ireland and I kept Larry. I backed him and have produced him myself.” Larry is by Woodrow Portman who competed at HOYS in flat and working hunter pony finals.
Just four top horses and ponies came forward to contest the Search for a Star Open Veteran final at Your Horse Live. Each gave a unique individual show with plenty of flamboyance and the four judges held up score cards – similar to Strictly – and gave a mark out of 10 for the shows. Following stripping and trotting up, the winners were announced.
Millie Bowles riding her mother Selina Bowles’, twenty-four-year-old Welsh section B pony, Cottrell Riverdance were crowned the champions. Millie said: “We really enjoyed the atmosphere today, it is so exciting to come to a show with big names, such as Charlotte Dujardin walking past the ring! We came here last year and won the in-hand veteran final before taking second place in the ridden Search for a Star veteran class. Ronnie as we call him has recently been going to water treadmill sessions once a week. I work as an apprentice journalist for Kent Online Monday to Friday and it helps get him out. We have also been doing some tackless riding which we are enjoying. He just has a rope around his neck while I am riding him!” The winner of the Open veteran Championship did not go forward to the Saturday Search for a Star championship as the class was open to all riders without Search for a Star amateur rider rules applying.
Competitors at the Search for a Star Your Horse Live championships are lucky to go under top producers, Katie Jerram-Hunnable and Chris Hunnable and Matthew Lawrence for their final. As each class is underway, the judges will voice their thoughts over a microphone. This has proved very popular with the audience.
PHOTOS: SMR Photos.
Results SEIB Search for a Star Championships at Your Horse Live 2022.
SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Champion 2022
Thistledown Elpaso owned by Heather Hiscox and ridden by Emily Elliott from Warwickshire
SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Reserve Champion 2022
Finn Williamson owned by Kirsty Wilson and exhibited by Finn Williamson from Cheshire
IN-HAND VETERAN
1st – Randall IV, owned and exhibited by Lucy Ashworth from Oxfordshire
2nd – Woodview Ingot, owned and exhibited by Hollie Thomas from Birmingham
3rd – Midnight Magic, owned by Gemma Hoe and exhibited by Donna Hoe from St Helens
IN-HAND NATIVE AND TRADITIONAL
1st – Milnerfield Lady Isabelle, owned and exhibited by Lucy Parr from Yorkshire
2nd – World Horse Welfare Paolo, owned and exhibited by Grace Willis from Essex
3rd – Razzle Dazzle Them owned by Sue Baker and exhibited by Brooke Baker from West Sussex
IN-HAND MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND
1st – Lachlann of Croila Croft, owned and exhibited by Judith Hogg from Crieff, Scotland
2nd – Amilas Slumberdown, owned by Jo Stewart and exhibited by Michelle Prentice from Hertfordshire
3rd – Collstone Perfect Storm owned and exhibited by Jamie Clarke from Birmingham
IN-HAND PLAITED PONY
1st – Ryehill Petit Ami, owned and exhibited by Lisa Hayyez from Buckinghamshire
2nd – Romanno Royal Myth, owned by Victoria Bryan and exhibited by Molly Bryan from Staffordshire
3rd – Rhos Elodie owned and exhibited by Sam Crutchlow from Warwickshire
IN-HAND PLAITED HORSE AND HOGGED SHOW COB
1st – Port Lou Lou, owned by Kirsty Wilson and exhibited by Finn Williamson from Cheshire
2nd – West Country Samurai, owned and exhibited by Suzi Ayres from Ayrshire
3rd – Randall IV owned and exhibited by Lucy Ashworth from Oxfordshire
SEARCH FOR A STAR PONY CLUB LEAD REIN CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Thistledown Elpaso, owned by Heather Hiscox and ridden by Emily Hiscox from Warwickshire
2nd – Blackhill Osprey, owned by Lisa Croft and ridden by Millie Croft from Nottinghamshire
3rd – Clearfell Bumblebee owned by Sophie Milczarek and ridden by Florence Milczarek from Shropshire
SEARCH FOR A STAR PONY CLUB FIRST RIDDEN CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Larchgrove Isabella, owned by Connie Elliott and ridden by Emily Elliott from Nottinghamshire
2nd – Desabre Sparrow Hawk, owned by Victoria Cable and ridden by Lucia Cable from Essex
3rd – Nerwyn Leonardo owned by Sarah Fraser and ridden by Annabel Fraser from Cumbria
SEARCH FOR A STAR PONY CLUB OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Cavan Mick, owned by Naomi Kitchener and ridden by Helena Kitchener from Surrey
2nd – Battlestown Jenny, owned by Fiona Radford-Jones and ridden by Isobel Radford-Jones from London
3rd – Phantoms Masquerade owned by Sarah Adams and ridden by Grace Adams from West Yorkshire
SEARCH FOR A STAR PART-BRED TRADITIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Furlong Socks, owned and ridden by Maia Ellis from St Helens
2nd – Bradwell Dun Deal, owned by Hannah Chalkly and ridden by Catherine Chalkly from Co Durham
3rd – Addien Toy Soldier owned and ridden by Helen Jackson from Yorkshire
SEARCH FOR A STAR RIDDEN MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Langorra Ginger Port, owned and ridden by Natalie Pastor from Warwick
2nd – Lachlann of Croila Croft, owned and ridden by Judith Hogg from Crieff, Scotland
3rd – Saulire Thunder Struck owned and ridden by Caroline Edgson from Warwickshire
SEARCH FOR A STAR OPEN VETERAN CHAMPIONSHIP
1st – Cottrell Riverdance, owned by Selina Bowles and ridden by Millie Bowles from Kent
2nd – Abbas Blue Rainbow, owned by Anna Dunn and ridden by Ella Dunn from Angus, Scotland
3rd – Dollar Boy owned and ridden by Alexander Osborn from Worcestershire
Posted on November 11th, 2022
The 2022 Equestrian Business Awards
Peewee Saddlery’s Poppy Webber has won 2022 Saddle Fitter of the Year at The Equestrian Business Awards.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary has been named Charity of the Year at the Equestrian Business Awards.
The UK’s largest horse charity was nominated by the public then a thorough process including interviews, references and mystery shops was conducted by a team of judges.
Lynn Cutress said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be the first winners of this category, which was introduced to the Equestrian Business Awards this year.
“Thank you so much to those who nominated us, to the organisers and a special mention to the runners-up, Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue.
“We’re very grateful to our wonderful staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to care for the horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in our care 365 days a year and this award is dedicated to them.”
The awards had almost 17,000 nominations across 19 categories – which included Event Venue of the Year, Farrier of the Year, Saddle Fitter of the Year and Horse Transporter of the Year.
Posted on November 10th, 2022
Ponies from across Great Britain to take part in the first ever SEIB Search for a Star Pony Club Championships at Your Horse Live
The first ever SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Pony Club Your Horse Live Championships will take place in the main SEIB Arena at Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on the 11th and 12th November 2022. Each of the four nations of Great Britain are represented in this exciting championship with young riders and their ponies travelling from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales for the big day.
The SEIB Search for a Star Pony Club Your Horse Live championship is part of the Search for a Star Your Horse Live championship which includes a total of eleven championship finals on the Friday of the show. For the first time ever, a Search for a Star Supreme Championship will be held for all the amateur finals winners on the Saturday of Your Horse Live in the main SEIB Arena.
The Search for a Star Pony Club championships include three finals, lead rein, first ridden and open. To compete, children and young people must be a member of a Pony Club branch or centre. Pony Club members from as far a-field as the Ross-Shire Pony Club in Inverness and East Antrim Pony Club in Northern Ireland have qualified for the first ever Search for a Star Pony Club championship.
SEIB Search for a Star has been running since 1996 and over this time the series has helped many amateur riders learn showing skills and go on to compete with great success in open classes. Founder of Search for a Star, SEIB’s Marketing Manager, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “We are delighted to welcome The Pony Club to Search for a Star and are looking forward to the first ever Pony Club Search for a Star championships. Our competitors have worked so hard to secure their qualifications, we wish everyone the best of luck at Your Horse Live.”
Following six qualifying shows across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a total of sixteen young riders have qualified for the three Search for a Star Pony Club finals. Search for a Star 2022 kicked off with its first qualifying show at Vale View Equestrian Centre back in April and qualifiers followed at Bury Farm, Netherton Equestrian Centre in Perthshire, Laurel View in Northern Ireland, Stoneleigh Park and Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre. All finalists have either won, or been placed runner-up at one of these qualifying shows.
Search for a Star is unique owing to the support provided to amateur riders and their horses and ponies. Qualifying shows are headed up by senior judge, Mr Richard Ramsay who has a lifetime of experience producing, judging and mentoring showing competitors. Other series judges include Nicola Taylor, Hannah Horton, Samantha DeCaprio and former Search for a Star competitor, Louise Gaunt. All competitors are supported and encouraged by the team of Search for a Star judges and stewards who also give up their time for two Search for a Star ‘Weekender’ events throughout the season – where a training workshop is offered the day before the qualifying show and the Search for a Star training day held in September for all riders that have qualified for a Search for a Star final.
Competitors at the Search for a Star Pony Club Your Horse Live championships are lucky to go under top judges, Katie Jerram-Hunnable and Chris Hunnable and Matthew Lawrence for their final. As each class is underway, the judges will voice their thoughts over a microphone. This has proved very popular with the audience.
Your Horse Live Event Director, Emma Bedford said: “We are thrilled to welcome and host more SEIB Search for a Star championship classes than ever before. The Search for a Star schedule is packed and will run back-to-back all morning on the opening Friday of the show with for the first time ever, the Search for a Star supreme championship to follow in the SEIB Arena at prime time on the Saturday lunchtime!”
The SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Championship 2022 will begin at 8.20am in the main SEIB Arena with the in-hand finals. This final includes in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob. In-hand plaited pony, in-hand native and traditional, in-hand veteran and in-hand mountain and moorland. At 9.40 the first of the new Search for a Star Pony Club finals gets underway with first-ridden and lead rein. At 10.25, the Pony Club Open final will take place, going on at 10.50 to the Search for a Star ridden part-bred traditional final. The biggest championship class of the day follows with the Search for a Star ridden mountain and moorland final at 11.15am and the action-packed morning will have its finale at midday with the SEIB Search for a Star open veteran championship.
Each winner of the ten Search for a Star amateur sections on the Friday will be invited forward to the Search for a Star Your Horse Live Supreme Championship at 1pm on Saturday in the main SEIB Arena at Your Horse Live.
Posted on August 9th, 2022
Fundraising campaign “Ride for Ukraine”, aiming to save 5000 horses, launched in the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors & Young Riders at Hartpury
At the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors & Young Riders at Hartpury, the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation (UEF-CF) launched a “Ride for Ukraine” fundraising campaign. This campaign is aimed to unite all equestrian riders, professionals, federations, organizations, goods producers and horse lovers to help feed around 5,000 horses during wintertime in Ukraine. The Ukrainian dressage team members became the first ambassadors of the campaign.
The goal is simple, but ambitious — to raise about 500,000 euro and feed 5,000 horses during the wintertime, when fresh grass or hay and warm stables will not be that common as in summer.
The idea of the ‘Ride for Ukraine’ campaign is that every show can support the campaign and help Ukrainian horses from simply placing info about the campaign on site or organizing a special class or show dedicated to the campaign. Every rider at this show can donate by participating and every visitor can donate using a QR code or via the website. There are many partnership options for equestrian goods producers, publishers, media, educational and any other kind of organizations and people who love horses and are ready to help. Becoming an ambassador is easy. After donating a particular amount of money you will get a pin, polo, cap and become part of the team that saves Ukrainian horses during the war with Russia.
Inna Logutenkova, 2-time participant of the Olympic Games, 2-time participant of the World Equestrian Games WEG, 3-time participant of the European Championship, Finalist of the World Cup and the Chef d’equipe of the Ukrainian dressage team says: “I’m proud to become one of the first ambassadors of the campaign and help Ukrainian equestrians to save and feed their horses. I believe that after Ukraine wins, the country will recover and show the best result in the sports arena. Our team is defending Ukrainian sports honor while our army defends European freedom from Russian invasion”.
Funds raised through the campaign will be used to maintain health and the welfare of the horses. First of all, this is the provision of feed and hay including coverage of the costs of their transportation to all regions of Ukraine. Also, to support horses in a free evacuation shelter. At the moment, there are 37 horses, but the UEF-CF predicts an increase in the number of horses that temporarily cannot be supported by the owners and who may be in the war zone. These horses will need relocation and keeping, which the foundation also provides. For this, several more shelters are already being prepared in the west of Ukraine. If necessary, 100-120 horses will manage to survive difficult times there.
“Situation on the frontline is very unpredictable and as the biggest foundation that focuses on helping horses and equestrians, we feel responsible for the horses that stay in Ukraine. We know that the biggest problem for Ukrainian horse owners is feeding and caring about their horses because of the lack of money. The economy collapsed; their normal income sources doesn’t exist anymore. And we are keen to help them to save horses while they are recovering and looking for new jobs or rebuilding their businesses.” — says Mykhaylo Parkhomchuk, founder of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation and the Secretary-General of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation. — “We believe that the equestrian community in the world will not stand aside and will help Ukraine to save their horses’ lives.”
How can you help?
If you are willing to save horses and hold a show or event, please consider joining the ‘Ride for Ukraine’ initiative to fundraise for the charity and if you compete, please look for shows to attend that are supporting the initiative.
There are also lots of other ways horse lovers can get involved, from displaying banners and sharing content on social media, to making donations directly via the website.
To find out more how to become the part of ‘Ride for Ukraine’ please visit: www.rideforukraine.info
How is UEF-CF helping horses?
Since the charity was registered in February of this year, it has moved more than 500 horses to safer zones and helped to feed more than 3,500 equines in need with 1000 tons of humanitarian feed. In June Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation established feed production on the territory of Ukraine to reduce the logistics costs of delivering feed outside of Ukraine. Additionally to feed and relocation, the Foundation has established free shelters and daily monitoring of the situation with stables in all regions across the country. Also organizes research and collaborates with 30 horse veterinarians to provide medical care to horses in need.
To provide care for the thousands of horses in need this winter, UEF-CF has to raise 500,000 euros to pay for feed, hay and bedding. There is also a growing need for portable diagnostic equipment and/or a fully equipped mobile veterinary clinic.
Support of horses is still very much needed and the number receiving help from UEF-CF is set to rise from 3,500 to more than 5,000 as winter approaches. The number of horses in need of help is constantly growing due to the difficult financial situation of the majority of Ukrainians who have lost their jobs and regular sources of income.
You can also find out more about the charity’s work and make a donation here: www.helpukrainehorses.eu
Posted on July 12th, 2022
World Horse Welfare response to the British Horseracing Authority’s review of the use of the whip in horse racing
World Horse Welfare, the international horse welfare charity, notes today’s announcement by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on the conclusions of its review of the use of the whip in horse racing.
World Horse Welfare supports the responsible involvement of horses in sport and is an independent welfare advisor to horse sport regulators, including the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and the BHA.
The charity has advised the BHA on a series of welfare matters over the past decade and fed into the BHA’s 2011 whip review, confirming the role of the whip in safety but highlighting the need for a wider debate on the use of the whip for encouragement.
World Horse Welfare’s Chief Executive Roly Owers was a member of the BHA’s 2021 Whip Consultation Steering Group and the only member representing the equine welfare sector, with other members of the group drawn from jockeys, trainers, representatives of the racing industry, politics and media.
The charity wants to see racing move away from the use of the whip for encouragement, and during this review argued that this use should cease on both ethical and welfare grounds.
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive said:
“We welcomed the formation of the BHA Whip Consultation Steering Group and have been happy to participate actively in the consultation process as the only member representing the equine welfare sector. We thank David Jones, who chaired the Steering Group, for his very hard work, and the BHA for initiating this important process.
“Much good has come out of the work including the focus on education and tougher penalties for breaches of the rules, including disqualification. We are also encouraged by the establishment of the independent stewards committee which the BHA hopes will identify and address any breaches of the rules more consistently.
“An increased focus on training and education on how the whip should be used is also warmly welcomed. We would like to see this education include a focus on how horses learn so that, if the whip is used, it is used in accordance with evidence-based learning theory.
“However, we believe that the recommendation on whip use “to be used in a backhand position only,” while welcome, does not go far enough. We are clear that we want to see a move away from the use of the whip for ‘encouragement’ in horseracing on both welfare and ethical grounds. We simply do not believe its use is justified, especially in light of what we now know about what makes a good horse-human partnership.
“We will continue to work constructively with the BHA and others in racing to support the implementation of the rules and the recommendations of the Horse Welfare Board. Racing of horses, like all horse sport, can only continue to take place if the sport maintains the support of the public, which will require everyone in racing to justify their use of the whip in the context of horse welfare, and show that they can be trusted to adhere to and enforce these rules.”
