Your essential guide to jodhpurs and breeches

Need new equestrian clothing? Here’s some handy advice on how to find the best jods (or breeches) for you. Jodhpurs versus breeches If you are starting out, you may want to know the difference between jodhpurs and breeches — it is length and what kind of boots they are designed to be worn with. Jodhpurs […]

How to buy jodhpurs and riding breeches

Like all clothing, jodhpurs and riding breeches come in a range of sizes and cuts, and it is important to find the one that best suits your body shape. If you are uncomfortable in the saddle and feel restricted, you are wearing the wrong trousers! The whole point of these garments is that they give […]

The 9 top tips for stress-free horse sharing

Horses are expensive animals. We all dream of owning one, but sometimes the purchase price and the weekly livery costs—not to mention the workload—are prohibitive. Loaning works for some, but it can bring as many responsibilities as owning a horse, minus the purchase price. However, there is another way that regular riding can be made […]

Want to own a top horse? Join a syndicate

Sport horses and racehorses are expensive. Buy a successful horse and you could be looking at a seven-figure sum. Dressage superstar Totilas may have been a one-off, but he sold for £16m, for example. Even well-bred youngsters at sales, particularly in the world of racing, can fetch eye-watering amounts. For many years, particularly in racing, […]

The Frankie Dettori (and Mary Bolton) show

A scarcely believable 20 years ago this week Frankie Dettori rode his Magnificent Seven at Ascot, going through the entire card and — in an instant — rewriting the history books and inflicting on the poor bookies their darkest ever day. Most racing fans know the details inside out: the horses, the £40 million losses […]

Proof that horses can communicate with us

The news will come as no surprise to many but science has just confirmed what was received wisdom in the equestrian community: horses can communicate with us and express their opinion. With the help of some professional horse trainers, researchers Cecilie Mejdell, Turid Buvik, Grete Jørgensen and Knut Bøe of the Norwegian Veterinary Institute successfully […]

When horses take to the Strictly stage

Imagine, if you can, a working hunter pony doing a jive. Ears pricked, eyes bright, neat little feet flying. This image popped into my head — I really must stop eating cheese before bedtime — as I pondered the latest lineup in Strictly Come Dancing. Who among this year’s rather, shall we say, alternative list […]

Michaela Wood beats a tonsil infection to win two BSPS classes on Swchyrhafod Brenin

Michaela Wood had intended to take four of her show horses to the BSPS Summer Championships, but ended up taking only one. Having only left her sick bed the day before, following a serious throat infection, she triumphed in both the HOYS mountain and moorland section and the ultra-prestigious Olympia qualifier at Arena UK. “I […]

John and Vicki Keen’s showing champion, Frankie, put to sleep

Multi-champion hack Marquis of Queensbury (Frankie) was put to sleep on Monday at the age of 21. The winner of more than 100 championships, Frankie was bred by former show jumper John Keen and his wife Vicki at their Buckinghamshire farm. “He was one of the most honest, genuine and consistent of horses we have […]

Brando shines at Ayr racecourse

One of the most oft-used phrases at this time of year is that of “a Group horse masquerading in a handicap.” Any handicap winner of more than a handful of lengths is immediately chucked into the bracket, but on Saturday at Ayr it was impossible to be jaded about the prospects of Kevin Ryan’s Brando. […]

Month: September 2016