Equine Choices

19/08/2024

Beautiful heartfelt post written by Ros 😍 an inspirational lady that’s for sure 😍

07/08/2024

Great dressage competition…

🦄Online Dressage Competition 2024🦄

⭐️POINTS LEAGUE ⭐️

JULY/AUGUST DRESSAGE COMPETITION

⭐️ Entries NOW open! ⭐️

These competitions will run over two months, with a points league. Points are gained on the placings, the higher the placing the more points are awarded (10 points for 1st being the highest). At the end of the year the Senior points champion, Reserve senior champion and Junior points champion as well as reserve junior champion will be announced (December 2024)
Sashes and large rosettes to the senior Champion and junior champion, large reserve champion rosettes to both senior and junior reserve points champions

✅ Open to everyone AND any arena!
✅ Videos to be done from the letter “C”
✅ Callers permitted
✅ No zooming in or out
✅ No editing permitted
✅ Videos to be sent via WhatsApp, email or YouTube. Please pm me for details to send your video to.
✅ all competitors will receive a rosette.
✅ competition gear is not essential
✅ matchy matchy is encouraged!
✅ Entry fee is £10 per class
✅ the date and time of the video must be stated at the start of the video before the rider commences their test

If you wish to enter please PM me with the following:
- name of rider
- name of horse
- test you wish to enter
- along with your entry fee (via PayPal - friends and family) for £10.

Please PM me for PayPal details and also WhatsApp number to send your video to.

The tests for this month are below:

⭐️Intro L3
⭐️Prelim J2
⭐️ Novice H1 or Elementary D1

🍀Entries close: midnight on 31st AUGUST 🍀

PLEASE STATE WHICH TEST YOU ARE RIDING, NAME OF HORSE AND RIDER WHEN ENTERING !!!

Readers are allowed but no instruction other than reading the test is permitted.

Please keep the sound turned up when videoing.

06/08/2024

Such a shame but absolutely the right decision, always horses first 🐴🇬🇧…

A message from

unfortunately me and romeo will not start the individual final today in paris. after a small overreach yesterday he is not quite the 110% that he has been the whole games, so we are not taking any risks.

maybe i’m a little disappointed but honestly not really ! he has given me so much and took me beyond my dreams, we’re leaving paris with a gold medal and more importantly a happy romeo, so that’s way more than enough for me !

have a great shot at the medals with two of the best today in Scott and Ben so we will be on the sidelines cheering them on.

thank you to everyone for all the support you’ve given me and romeo throughout the games and making it an experience of a lifetime !

04/08/2024

Blooming marvellous 🤩🥉🐴😍…

03/08/2024

Fantastic 🇬🇧🙌🥉🐴😍…

It's team BRONZE for Team GB! 🥉

Our fantastic trio of Becky Moody Dressage and Jagerbomb, Carl Hester and Fame, and Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale have pulled out all the stops to secure a podium finish on a combined score of 232.492 🥳

Gold goes to Germany on 235.790% and silver to Denmark on 235.669% 👏

That's a British team medal in all three equestrian disciplines at Paris 2024 🤩

02/08/2024

Blooming Fantastic 🥇🇬🇧🐴🇬🇧…

01/08/2024

Great News 🇬🇧🐴🇬🇧

Team GB have qualified for tomorrow's team final 🥳

Jefferson looked to be thoroughly enjoying being at his second Olympic Games – he and Scott Brash just brushed the first part of the treble, but otherwise put in a great round to add four penalties to Great Britain's scorecard.

This puts us on a final total of 227.79 and guarantees us the opportunity to challenge for medals 😆

31/07/2024

Fantastic 🇬🇧…

30/07/2024

🙌 brilliant 🤩 …

❤️And THAT is how you make an Olympic debut!

Becky Moody and Jagerbomb do Team GB proud with 74.938%, they go into the lead in group C with one to go 😍 This means they're guaranteed a spot in Sunday's Freestyle...get your dancing shoes on Bomb!

FEI Dressage

28/07/2024

🙌🥇

27/07/2024

Blooming fantastic 🤩

Great Britain's Laura Collett sets a new Olympic record in the individual eventing dressage on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympics.Follow the Paris 2024 Olymp...

27/07/2024

🙌

22/07/2024

Great read & I love this quote…

“If forced to encapsulate Chris’s philosophy into one quote, it might have to be, “Allow your horse to perform as your dancing partner”. Allow being the operative word.” 🐴

Christopher Bartle, genius trainer, share his perception and wisdom in a Clinic:
“I see too much pressure at the front end, fussy hands which leads to a tight neck." Reins were to be held in the outside hand because that’s the disciplining rein.
The work at all levels was first and foremost about freedom of movement, expression, that “up” attitude but without too much holding and squeezing.”
Dr Klimke, an inspiration to Christopher Bartle, demonstrates…
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2023/12/christopher-bartle-this-is-a-truly-amazing-article/

19/07/2024

Please share this video as much as possible. Let’s get more awareness out there 🚗🐴

08/07/2024

Please take strangles seriously if you have an outbreak on your yard by following good biosecurity to minimise risk of spreading 🐴
🐴

02/07/2024

Looking amazing 🤩 not long now. I am going so I’ll keep you all updated whilst I am there 🐴

Excitement is in the air!

An iconic venue, the Château de Versailles will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Originally a simple hunting lodge, the Château de Versailles welcomed the court of Louis XIV in 1682, becoming the epicenter of French royalty. It the first French site to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.

Temporary installations will allow the Paris 2024 events to be held in this exceptional setting. An arena with several stands will be installed at the Étoile Royale, an esplanade west of the Grand Canal. The eventing cross-country test will take place around the Grand Canal itself. Two bridges flying across the water have been built for this purpose.

Behind every equine athlete is a dedicated team of veterinarians, ensuring they are prepared and in peak condition. On site, a record number of vets (twice as many vets as doctors) will ensure the safety of our horses.

A full-fledged clinic, equipped with all the necessary technology has been built purportedly, including a laboratory and pharmacy.

Vets have undergone special training for the event, including joint drills with emergency teams to prepare for all kinds of incidents, including the extremely unlikely fall of a horse in the canal!

Strict biosecurity rules will be enforced prior to allowing the horses on site. Once cleared, horses will be housed in tents equipped with a natural air cooling system. They will be able to exercise and graze at leisure in the park.

As the area is protected, only natural products will be allowed to keep insects at bay and all waste will be collected during the event.

🇫🇷🥇


📸: paris2024

28/06/2024

His Dad, Tim, would be so proud 💙 Fantastic news that Joe has been picked for the Olympics 🐴

26/06/2024

Great Work Horseware Ireland 🦏🤍

26/06/2024

“It Depends” … 😍

"It Depends"🤯

These two words cop some flak. People want a simplified world that is black and white (or 20s on TikTok 🙄), but life isn’t like that—and neither are horses!

Whilst my response to any question or scenario with a horse will typically start with “it depends,” 🤔what I might suggest can vary depending on the context and circumstances of a situation or what may transpire along the way.

You see, life is one long sequence of making decision after decision as you navigate what gets presented to you. The more you live, the more you learn, the wiser you (hopefully) become!🤓

The deeper you go with horses and understanding them, the more you embrace “it depends.” It's funny because when you start out with horses and know nothing, you tend to outsource your decisions to others and follow along with what you are told. Then as you start learning, it all goes a bit black and white, and your beliefs become rigid. But the more you learn and the more experience you gather, the more insight, openness, and flexibility you gain, and “it depends” becomes the way it is.

I know it can frustrate you but really it is creativity and possibility. It is problem solving and adaptability. It is staring down and not being afraid of uncertainty. It is confidence, agency and thoughfulness ❤

"It depends" isn't a sign of indecision or lack of knowledge; rather, it is an acknowledgment of complexity and a refusal to oversimplify the intricate realities of life with horses. It is a sign of respect for the uniqueness of each horse✅, each person✅, and each situation✅.

22/06/2024

Another great partnership to be created between horse and rider …

Following my decision to no longer compete at the top level Amanda Gould and I have been considering Grafennacht and her new pilot. We have come to the conclusion that she should go to Harry Meade. I rate Harry very highly as a jockey and will really enjoy watching their progress. She is currently at stud trying to do embryo transfer, and she will be going to Harry’s yard shortly.
Although Grafennacht has been competing at 5* level she will not be allowed to go straight to that level with a new rider, so she will have to do an Autumn 4*. Harry will make plans about where this will be.
We all wish them much success together.

29/05/2024

Black Beauty 🖤
I can hear the theme music now !
I have my mum’s book of Black Beauty that she had as a child, she is 87 now. I never put it down when I read it as a child 🖤 a profound read.

Anna Sewell is celebrated as the author of "Black Beauty," a novel that transcends its literary value by profoundly influencing animal welfare. Published in 1877, the book’s depiction of a horse's life under various owners highlighted the cruelty faced by animals, effectively sparking a movement for their compassionate treatment. Anna Sewell was born in 1820 in Norfolk, England. Her life was marked by physical ailments, and by her teenage years, she was unable to walk without assistance. This reliance on horse-drawn carriages gave her a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and horses, which would later be vividly portrayed in her writing.

"Black Beauty" was written during the last years of Sewell's life. She aimed to raise awareness about the humane treatment of horses rather than purely entertain readers. The book was published just five months before her death, and it quickly became a bestseller. Sewell’s portrayal of the horse's perspective was revolutionary, offering readers an emotional connection to the plight of animals.

The novel is structured as an autobiography of a horse, Black Beauty, and narrates his experiences with various owners, highlighting both cruelty and kindness. Key themes include:

- The novel emphasizes that animals have feelings and deserve respectful treatment.
- It depicts the harsh realities of overworking and mistreating horses, especially those used in transportation.
- Sewell subtly but powerfully advocates for better conditions for working animals, promoting empathy and kindness.
- Impact on Animal Rights and Welfare

"Black Beauty" had a significant impact on public perception and the treatment of animals. The book influenced legislative reforms, including the introduction of laws to prevent cruelty to animals. In the UK, the novel contributed to the establishment of organizations like the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Sewell's work raised public consciousness about the mistreatment of horses and other animals, encouraging a more humane approach. The impact of "Black Beauty" extended beyond the UK, affecting animal welfare practices in the United States and other countries.

Campaigns were launched to improve the conditions for working horses, such as banning the use of the "bearing rein," a device that caused discomfort and injury. "Black Beauty" remains a powerful educational tool, teaching generations about empathy and the ethical treatment of animals.

The book has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and television series, continually bringing its message to new audiences. The themes of animal welfare and compassion in "Black Beauty" remain relevant today, as societies continue to strive for better treatment of animals.

Anna Sewell’s "Black Beauty" is more than a classic piece of literature; it is a seminal work in the history of animal welfare. By bringing the plight of horses to the forefront of public consciousness, Sewell not only advocated for the humane treatment of animals but also laid the groundwork for future animal rights movements.

👉 Please Follow Us on instagram.com/womeninworldhistory✨

17/05/2024

Fancy a course walk …

02/05/2024

Gotta love a Thoroughbred 🐴💕🐴

Thoroughbreds are just the XC kings! Who else enjoyed watching the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event 5* last weekend? What a great event, and an incredible showcase for the cross country ability of thoroughbreds with five full thoroughbreds taking part. I did a bit of number crunching after the event, and the numbers are impressive:

⭐5/32 horses to start the XC were thoroughbreds – they all jumped clear, so that was a 100% clear rate

⭐The other 27 horses achieved a 55.5% XC clear rate

⭐The thoroughbreds had a mean average of 2.64 time penalties

⭐The non-thoroughbreds that completed the course had a mean average of 8.02 time penalties


That’s an incredible difference.

And it’s why every time I see an advert from someone who is looking for an event horse that will be able to progress to the higher levels of the sport but specifies ‘no thoroughbreds’ a little part of me dies inside. Thoroughbreds can do everything that the expensive WBs can do – just watch Artist’s dressage test if you want evidence (also shoutout to EventStars Ltd who probably have the best rehoming operation in the whole world that Artist came through). There is no horse that will give as much and as willingly as a well-trained TB.

All of those thoroughbreds looked fantastic around the course – they didn’t tire, they kept galloping all the way to the end. Those are the kind of positive images that the sport needs – not the image of heavier set warmblood types getting tired and weary and being carried home.

And of those 5 horses - Twilightslastgleam, Artist, Phelps, Harbin and Sorocaima – their racing starts number 0, 0, 0, 4 and 43 respectively – showing that ability on the track isn’t required to translate into eventing success, but *also* that horses that have had significant mileage on the track like Sorocaima can also still go on to have really successful athletic second careers. And in fact, it was Harbin and Sorocaima who did race that were the two horses that left all the showjump poles up on Sunday too.

I love the fact that eventing is a sport where you can buy a horse for less than you might spend on your month’s supermarket shopping, and still get to the absolute pinnacle of the top of the sport. That’s something that inspires me so much.