Event Reports

said: “After many years of campaigning, I’m delighted that the Government has listened to our coalition and finally increased maximum sentences from six months to five years for the worst animal cruelty offences. As a nation of animal lovers, the previous punishment was wholly inadequate.” Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA said: “Our officers are faced with cases of the most unimaginable cruelty; from organised criminals making money from the suffering of animals, to pets starved, shot, stabbed, beaten to death and drowned. At least now, in those most shocking of cases, courts will be able to hand out sentences that truly reflect the severity of the crimes.” Lord Randall of Uxbridge, former Special Advisor on the Environment to then Prime Minister Theresa May MP, met with the coalition in June 2019, and has spearheaded the Bill’s passage through the House of Lords. He said: “It is a much-needed measure that will now ensure that those who harm an animal by, for example, causing unnecessary suffering, mutilation or poisoning, face the full force of the law. I commend all of the charities involved for the weight and purpose that they brought to this campaign, to secure one of the most significant changes to animal welfare legislation since the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.”

BRITISH EVENTING AFFILIATED HORSE TRIALS AT HORSEHEATH 24th-25th April

The return of British Eventing to Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, was particularly welcome this year, after a two-year absence.

With so many events cancelled due to the pandemic, Horseheath were fortunate to run and the focus was very much on the condition of the ground, having had exceptionally dry weather throughout April across the country. The thorough preparations of Horseheath’s ground care team meant competitors were delighted to find near-perfect footing. Over two inches of water had gone down over the dressage and showjumping arenas and respective warm-up areas, in addition to the extensive irrigation of the crosscountry course. The team had also invested several days equivating the ground to ensure the going was good for the 500 riders that had travelled from across five counties to compete. In addition to BE80 (T) to BE105, there were two BE Under 18 classes open to junior competitors competing in the BE90 and the BE100. The crosscountry course had, once again, been expertly designed by British Eventing Accredited Coach and Course Designer Tina Ure of Ely Eventing Centre and built by David Carpenter and his team. Among the winners was World Class Podium eventer, Sarah Bullimore who won her section in the BE100 riding Quiwi Sprite. Sarah said: “We had a good outing at Horseheath and really appreciated all the arenas and warm-up areas being watered. The going was great with educational courses, looking after our horses for the future.” Imogen Pohl was another of the Horseheath winners. Competing in the BE100 under 18 class, Imogen had picked up some valuable tips from BE Trainer Michael Paveley in the course walk earlier that day and put them to good use riding Ballingowan Chiara. Imogen said: “We all really love Horseheath. The organisers and volunteers put in so much work to enable us to enjoy one of the best events in the BE calendar, and to win was the icing on the cake!” Event organiser, Tim Barling said: “On behalf of the Vestey family who so generously provide the ground and infrastructure for this event, and our brilliant sponsors, I wanted to say how fantastic it was to see so many Eventers back out again and riding so well at Horseheath. I also want to thank our wonderful committee, and our superb team of volunteers who give up so much time to enable this to happen. It is a big team effort.”

” I very much hope that the rest of the season goes well for all entrants”

Teresa Halsall Sarah Bullimore

OASBY ELITE ATTRACTS THE WHO’S WHO OF THE WORLD OF EVENTING Monday 22nd March

It was certainly a showcase of the country’s leading riders at Oasby Elite, the first event of the season, with many of the major players heading to the Lincolnshire venue.

Organised by the team at BEDE Events, Oasby Elite saw more than 150 horses taking part in five strong Open Intermediate sections. The line-up was second to none with many riders bringing their top horses to compete, get their season started and make their way around Stuart Buntine’s pipe-opener cross-country course. Said Stuart: “We were delighted with how the event ran and it was great to get the season underway. With strict Covid-19 guidelines in place, we were unable to welcome owners and supporters but it was fantastic to have Horse & Country TV in attendance to live stream the cross-country action.” Section A provided a great win for North Yorkshire-based Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin, finishing on a score of 26.4 penalties to hold off Laura Collett and Dacapo taking the runner-up spot. Oliver Townend and his winning Burghley ride, Ballaghmor Class secured Section B, heading the winner’s enclosure with plenty in hand over Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Piggy March got 2021 off to a great start with two wins, the first in Section C on Brookfield Inocent who galloped home ahead of Polly Stockton and Chicko. Pau 5* winner, Laura Collett and London 52 were certainly ones to watch and made their trip worthwhile when winning Section D beating off Ludwig Svennerstal and Balham Mist. Piggy March took third on her second Brookfield ride,

Brookfield Quality.

And it was the Northamptonshireriders turn once again in Section E when rounding off a very successful day to win on Fonbherna Lancer over second placed Emilie Chandler on

Laura Collett

Piggy March and Fonbherna Lancer Oliver Townend

Gortfadda Diamond, third going to Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On.

Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent.

LEADING EVENTING NAMES TRIUMPH AT OASBY Easter Weekend

Oasby Horse Trials saw a packed three days of British Eventing competition over the Easter weekend, with a full unaffiliated programme running on the fourth and final day.

With the likes of Oliver Townend, Izzy Taylor, Nicola Wilson, Piggy French and Laura Collett, to name just a few of the sport’s leading players, all vying for podium positions, competition was fierce throughout. The first day started well for Oliver when heading the first of two Open Intermediate sections on Miss Cooley ahead of Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ. The inform Piggy March and striking chestnut, Dargun ran out the winners of the second Open Intermediate with Izzy Taylor and Happy Days taking the runner-up spot. Izzy was another rider starting the season in winning mode when heading the two Intermediate sections with Ballingowan Leia and Caroline’s Air KM. Heidi Coy set the standard in the NAF sponsored Open Intermediate Under 21 section when winning on Russal Z and also claimed third on Royal Fury; leaving Daisy Proctor and Quarryman to fill the runner-up slot. The Open Novice saw Piggy March again taking the section with the attractive I Diablo Joe, and to round off a hugely successful day, saw the grey, Cooley Goodwood finish in third, with Emily Finston and Morelands Casanova taking second. Laura Collett and Canyon Du Fort Vert ran out the winners in the Novice over Ben Way and Eliza Stoddart with Codebreaker. Said Stuart Buntine of organisers BEDE Events: “It was fantastic to have so many of the country’s top riders travelling to Oasby for an early season run. Whilst the dry weather had the ground on the firm side of good, we couldn’t have been more pleased with how the event ran.” Saturday’s competition included eleven sections ranging from BE90 to BE100 Open classes with Under 18 and Pony Trial categories. Willa Newton’s team of young contenders were in great form winning the BE100 Open on Light The Fuse on the Saturday, taking a Novice section on the Sunday with Escape Route and a BE100 Open on Quality Time. Holly Woodhead was also in competitive spirit on the Sunday when capturing the Open Novice on Beneicia B and the final BE100 of the day with Jackpot DHI to round off a busy but brilliant Oasby 1.

Piggy March and Dargun

Heidi Coy and Russal Z

Izzy Taylor and Caroline’s Air KM Oliver Townend and Miss Cooley

SEIB SEARCH FOR A STAR QUALIFIER 2nd April

Megan Godridge and Penrock Purposely Puzzled

The first SEIB Search for a Star qualifier of the season for the Your Horse Live championship took place on the 2nd April at the Dallas Burston Polo Club. In a new venture for Search for a Star, the qualifier consisted of just the three new classes launched this spring – PartBred Traditional Gypsy Cob, Veteran Pony and Veteran Horse. Judge, Mr Richard Ramsay was impressed with the quality of entries that came forward and was delighted to see that each of the three winners were very worthy of their qualification for the Search for a Star championship at Your Horse Live in November.

The veteran pony class went to Ellie Taylor and her mother Gill Bostock’s chestnut gelding, Meillion Sovereign. Ellie and her mother have owned 19-year-old Meillion Sovereign since he was just sixteen months old. The pair have previously competed in the Search for a Star Show Hunter Pony class and qualified for the Horse of the Year Show finals back in 2014. Former Search for a Star Riding Horse HOYS finalist, Atlantic Flight and his owner, rider and breeder, Debbie Fitzpatrick won the veteran horse class at Dallas Burston. Since this pair took seventh place in the Search for a Star HOYS finals in 2018, Debbie has battled bladder cancer and is delighted to be back out competing with 19-year-old Atlantic Flight. The new Search for a Star veteran classes are the only Search for a Star classes in which it is within the rules for the horse and rider to have competed previously in the HOYS Search for a Star finals. Megan Godridge and her own striking piebald gelding, Penrock Purposely Puzzled took the top spot in the Part-Bred Traditional Gypsy Cob class.