We’ve scoured the newspapers to bring you the latest equestrian news:
Miracle recovery
Foxy, a 12-year-old former showjumper, nearly died when she fell down a well at her home in Hinckley, Leicestershire. But after being winched out by the fire service, she made a full recovery (and cost her owners £20,000 in vet bills). Source: Daily Telegraph
Polo on ice
A 3ft snowfall in the fashionable ski resort of St Moritz has been a headache for the organisers of the 31st Snow Polo World Cup. Setting up the event was a nightmare – the weight of the snow has had an impact an impact on the ice layer over the lake, pressing it into the underlying water – and snow was falling heavily as the four teams made their way from Zurich by train through the mountains.
Despite the conditions, a hundred polo ponies are now on site, shod with special, rubber-lined ‘hoof-grip’ horseshoes and acclimatising to the altitude and snow. Training sessions are on the agenda for Thursday and, from Friday until Sunday, the four teams will compete for the coveted Cartier Trophy at the world’s only high goal polo tournament on snow. Source: Daily Telegraph
The way to the Queen’s heart …
Is horses! Her 2014 list of gifts included a mounted sculpture of a white horse from France’s President Francois Hollande; a bronze sculpture of a horse’s head from the Emir of Qatar; and another bronze statuette of the famous Irish thoroughbred, Arkle from the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, along with a book of the same name, plus a dressage crop from the governor general of Canada, David Johnston, and a boot scraper from Felsted School. Source: CNN
King sets heart on Badminton
Mary King has announced that she’s aiming King’s Tempteress (Tess) for Badminton. Meanwhile her daughter Emily will be competing Brookleigh, Walitze F Vegjard, and Charlemagne at advanced level this season plus a new horse called Drago at Intermediate level. She also has a new ride arriving from Australia in a couple of weeks. Source: www.maryking.co.uk
World Travellers
A £32,000 animal handling and intelligent air cargo facility is set to open at New York’s JFK International Airport in 2016. The 14-acre site will include a large animal departure lounge with climate-controlled stables. Source: Horse & Hound
Rider of the week
Buckinghamshire based Hannah Maskell has become the youngest person ever to win Endurance GB’s Supreme Champion Trophy at just 15 years of age. Source: www.equestrianteambr.co.uk
Must read
Olympic medal-winning eventer Richard Meade died earlier this month at the age of 76. Read his obituary on his son Harry’s website
Watch and learn
Inspirational footage from the national BUNNY RABBIT show jumping championships at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Source: Daily Mail
Picture of the week
Ben Hobday has a tender Intagram moment with his retired event horse Fletcher. #badboyz4life
