Toblerone, the 19-year-old mount of Swiss rider Nadja Minder (pictured top), is approaching the twilight of an extraordinary career. But he didnt show any signs of age when posting a superb dressage score of 29.5 at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials today (3 September), and this pair lead the way after day one of the first phase. Its very emotional, admitted Nadja, 26. I mean, I dont know how many tests we have left together probably none I dont know.There is, however, no sense of sadness when Nadja talks about riding Toblerone just an overwhelming appreciation for a horse she knows she can always rely on.Hes just so cool, she said. He would never let me down. He is just there and delivers on the day. When Im walking cross-country, with him in mind, I just have no real worries.Their understanding has developed to such a degree that Nadja no longer feels the need to really practise the movements before a test.I dont need to because he knows me so well, and I know how to ride him because we know each other inside out.Instead, her job is to get him moving, thinking positively and confident in his own ability.I just need to get him moving before the test. Make him believe in his abilities, she explained, identifying this as something Toblerone struggled with when she first took over the ride.He was just maybe tightening a little bit because he didnt believe in himself.That confidence has been carefully built over time, with help from Nadjas mentor and coach Piggy March. The results were evident today, where Nadja was particularly pleased with Toblerones trot extensions and changes.The trot extensions were great, because when hes on grass, he just floats along. And the changes are so easy on him. I actually predominantly only ride on grass at home as I only have a 40x20m arena, and I think riding on grass really helps with a horses balance. Nadja has been riding Toblerone since 2020, when she took him on as a 13-year-old, and he had only started eventing in 2018. He started late he did his first two-star when he was 11, said Nadja. The geldings relatively light workload has, Nadja believes, contributed to his remarkable longevity.He is a horse that doesnt use himself up very much, she said. Hes not a flashy mover, so I think that helps definitely.There is also the way he has been allowed to live away from competition. At home, Nadjas horses are managed in a deliberately natural way, with plenty of time outside. I turn them out in groups, she explained. So hes in a group of 10 horses.For Nadja, this is an important part of keeping an older competition horse mentally and physically well.They go out on the field together, and that has worked very well for the management and the longevity of a horse, because we take a lot of care in making sure the horses move most of the day, like they would do when theyre living in the wild theyre moving, stepping, walking.The approach has worked well for Toblerone and the other horses, although Nadja acknowledges that turning competition horses out in groups inevitably carries some element of risk.Maybe its a risk, she conceded. But I think when theyre getting fresh in their brains and you turn them out in a small paddock, they maybe then pick up worse injuries.Much of the day-to-day care falls to Nadjas mother, Therese, who is also her groom.We are like the trio that goes everywhere with Toblerone, me and her.Gemma Stevens: His heart is always trying its bestGemma Stevens was delighted with her performance in the first phase with Chilli Knight. They scored 29.6 and sit in second. I was just trying to aim to get in the 20s, she said. Dressage isnt Chilli Knights fort he cant trot.Yet what the horse lacks in natural movement, he more than makes up for in attitude.The one thing he makes up for, and the fact that he cant trot, is the fact that his heart is always trying his best, Gemma said.After a difficult performance at Badminton when this combination scored 34, Gemma had deliberately tried something different in the warm-up. We razzed him up a bit before he went in, which is not a normal thing for a five-star event horse, but it really worked, she explained.Max Warburton: Im absolutely thrilledMax Warburton was similarly pleased with his dressage performance aboard the attractive grey, Deerparic Revelry, describing his test as a real clear round. They scored 31.2 and sit in third. He tried very hard, said Max. He was quiet in his brain the same as he was in the warm-up so Im absolutely thrilled.Hes 12 now and hes got enough experience under his belt that hes come here for a competitive run.Related contentIt has been a pretty low point in my career: Gemma Stevens bounces back from disappointment to top Burghley leaderboard From failed sale to Burghley: Caroline Pamukcu makes her debut on unlikely five-star horse 15 years later: Kiwi rider returns to Burghley with ex-racehorse and Melman the giraffe mascotHe was her favourite horse: Tim Price pilots Global Quest at Burghley in memory of Georgie CampbellHow to watch Defender Burghley Horse Trials this weekThe post He never lets me down: 19-year-old horse, who spends time turned out as part of a herd, leads the way after day one of Burghley dressage appeared first on Your Horse.

Reports of intentional animal beatings made to the RSPCA have risen by 90% in five years, with more than 16,000 reports recorded last year, according to figures released by the charity.These figureshave been released as part of theRSPCAs Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues campaign which coincides with the charitys busiestperiod,as cruelty reports typically peakduringthe summer months.Dogs and cats facethe most abuseand the beatings are most often carried out by someone in the pets family.These reports represent 85% of all animal cruelty complaints made to the RSPCA, meaning the charity deals with more animals being beaten than any other issue.Its incredibly distressing to see such a massive rise in reports of intentional beatings with one report coming to our cruelty line every 15 minutes, said RSPCA superintendent Jo Hirst.These are often upsetting cases where animals usually pet cats and dogs have experienced deliberate and horrific violence leaving animals with not only physical injuries but mental scars as well.Multitude of factorsThe reasons why an individual acts in this way can be down to a multitude of factors if they are struggling with behavioural problems or their mental health, they may have violent tendencies generally, or sometimes pets are used as part of coercive control, or simply the perpetrator has a complete lack of empathy for animals, said Jo.The RSPCA said the rise in reports does not necessarily mean that the number of beatings taking place has increased by the same amount, with better access to CCTV, doorbell camera and smartphones potentially making incidents easier to detect and report. Were also finding that CCTV footage, doorbell cameras and smartphones are providing a view into society that we never had before, meaning that animal beatings are more likely to be caught on camera in supermarket car parks, on streets, in lifts, and even behind closed doors in the home, said Jo.This could also account for the rise that we are seeing as they are more likely to be caught on camera, uploaded to social media or reported to us.Horse whipped excessivelyOne case investigated by the RSPCA involved a young horse pulling a cart in Buckinghamshire. A passer-by filmed the incident where the horse was whipped excessively by a man until he collapsed with exhaustion. The horse was then whipped again as he lay on the ground.The video evidence was sent to the RSPCA which investigated the incident and took the horse into its care. The man pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences and was given a five-year ban from keeping animals.To donate to the RSPCAs Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues campaign click here.Image RSPCA.More from Your HorseHow to tell if a horse is happy: behaviourist reveals 13 key signsLooking for hacking inspiration? Most scenic riding routes revealedTwo in-hand exercises to improve a horses core strengthBye-bye bugs: Seven fly repellent sprays put to the testThe post RSPCAreports ofanimalbeatingsrise by 90% infive years appeared first on Your Horse.

Anyone who has ever ridden a horse with seemingly endless amounts of energy will know that channelling it into something useful is a balancing act. You want to harness their enthusiasm without it tipping into tension or becoming difficult to control especially in the dressage arena.For Irelands Sam Watson, building trust has been key to keeping his exuberant Defender Burghley ride, Ballyneety Rocketman, focused in a big atmosphere.The 12-year-old gelding really lit up at Wednesdays first horse inspection, snorting, on his toes and looking at the crowds. Sam wondered whether he might struggle to contain the horse once they entered the main arena for their dressage test.This is his fourth five-star, so hes done Burghley before, hes done two Badmintons, and I did worry that after the trot-up, because he hasnt exploded quite that much before, that they get to know where they are, said Sam.They cant ever be afraidHe has been riding Rocketman since he was four and explained that the key to managing all that energy is trust.It is about trust, he said. I think its the same with teaching humans in school. Of course youve got to have a bit of discipline, but they cant ever be afraid. Youve got to be the teacher that they want to go to.Youve got to become the teacher that if they have a problem and theyre feeling anxious and nervous, youre their security blanket. Youre the teacher they can trust.Of course youve still got to train them, and youve got to say, Hey, mate, you made a mistake there, lets go back and do it again, but youve got to discipline with kindness and with empathy.Its high performance, and youve got to look for high standards, but you do that through repetition. The horse does not ever get anything to be anxious [about] from me, and over the years you hope that that helps him go, Okay, teacher knows best. Whatever youre asking, Ill try my best.'Confidence from consistencySam said Rocketman settled and started their test nicely today (4 September), although he was disappointed to make a costly mistake in the second-to-last flying change.The trot work was the best its been for sure, so thats going the right way, he said. The second-to-last change was an absolute car crash. It was a shame to put something that big an error into a test. You know, at this level, the rider shouldnt be letting that happen, but youve got to take the progress in terms of looking forward.Looking ahead to tomorrows cross-country, Sam said that if his horses attention is drawn away from him, controlling his power and pace could become difficult.Sometimes he can go, Oh wow, theres crowds, theres whatever, and if his attention leaves me, it is difficult because he has so much pace, he explained. I dont think theres a horse in here who would match him over a furlong going up a gallop. When he gets open and when he gets long, for him to get back is difficult.What does help is the ground, because the slower horses want to bounce off firm ground. They dont want any energy loss; they want to skid across the top of it because thats their most efficient way. Hes the opposite. Hes got so much speed, so much power, he needs that cut [in the ground] to slow down, so the conditions are right for him.The four S responsibilitiesOnce out of the start box, Sams focus will be on keeping that partnership together.All my focus is on what he is thinking, its not about me at all and its certainly not about the scoreboard, he said. You just focus on, is he relaxed? Have I got his right shoulder? Does he feel even in both reins? Is he listening to me? What can I do to help that?I have four responsibilities: control the speed, the straightness, the softness, and stay on my 4 Ss. If I can do that, normally it goes pretty well. Keeping the speed right and keeping the straightness thats all Im thinking about.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentChronic bucker once facing a bullet takes on Burghley with Aussie first timer15 years later: Kiwi rider returns to Burghley with ex-racehorse and Melman the giraffe mascotFrom failed sale to Burghley: Caroline Pamukcu makes her debut on unlikely five-star horseHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyThe post Teacher knows best: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energy appeared first on Your Horse.

Horse Sport Ireland remains operational as examinership process continues.As Horse Sport Ireland completes the second week of the Examinership process, the Board wishes to provide an update to the wider equestrian and breeding community.Examinership is a formal rescue and restructuring process intended to provide a viable organisation with an opportunity to address its financial challenges and secure a sustainable future. Throughout this process, the Boards focus remains clear and resolute: to protect the future of Horse Sport Ireland, safeguard the services and functions entrusted to the organisation, and preserve its ability to serve Irish equestrian sport and breeding for the long term.Horse Sport Irelands decision to seek the appointment of an Interim Examiner followed the crystallisation of a substantial legacy liability that relates to the defence of a longstanding legal action brought by Studbook Development Ireland Limited t/a Warmblood Studbook of Ireland against various defendants, including HSI.Since the appointment of the Interim Examiner, Mr Joe Walsh, Horse Sport Ireland has continued to operate and trade in the normal course. Its sporting, breeding, studbook, registration, high performance, coaching, education, safeguarding and administrative functions remain operational, and services continue to be delivered across the organisation.The Board also recognises the position of creditors in respect of liabilities arising prior to the Examinership and the uncertainty that the process may create for those affected. Those liabilities will be dealt with in accordance with the Examinership process and the applicable legal framework. The Board is conscious of the support that suppliers, service providers and other creditors have provided to Horse Sport Ireland and acknowledges the importance of their interests as the process progresses.The Board and management of Horse Sport Ireland are engaging constructively with Mr Walsh and his team. The shared objective is to identify a pathway that can secure the survival and long-term sustainability of Horse Sport Ireland, while protecting the important services and functions it performs on behalf of Irish equestrian sport and breeding.The objective is not simply to address the immediate financial challenges facing the organisation. The Board has a responsibility to protect the integrity, continuity and future of Horse Sport Ireland and to preserve the important functions and capabilities that have been entrusted to it. The Board is acutely aware of the significance of those functions and of the responsibility that accompanies them.The Board recognises that this is an uncertain period for many stakeholders and understands the concerns that exist across the sector. We value the contribution made by all those involved in the equestrian community. The Board remains committed to constructive engagement with stakeholders as the Examinership progresses and wishes to acknowledge the ongoing support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Sport Ireland during the process.The Board also wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the staff of Horse Sport Ireland. Throughout an exceptionally challenging period, staff have continued to demonstrate professionalism, commitment and resilience in delivering services and supporting members of the equestrian and breeding community.Their dedication to the sport, the organisation and those who rely upon its services has been invaluable. We are equally grateful for the support, encouragement and goodwill received from across the sector in recent weeks. That support reinforces the importance of Horse Sport Irelands work and strengthens our determination to secure a successful outcome from the Examinership process.Working constructively with the Interim Examiner, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Sport Ireland, the Board will continue to pursue an outcome that protects the integrity and continuity of Horse Sport Ireland and enables the organisation to emerge from Examinership on a stronger and more sustainable footing.The Board will keep stakeholders informed of material developments as the examinership process progresses.Dr Pamela ByrneChairpersonHorse Sport IrelandThe post Horse Sport Ireland Board Update appeared first on .

When Dassett Select (JJ) failed to find a buyer as a youngster, his rider Kate Rocher-Smith ended up reaping the rewards. For Kate, a 41-year-old mother of two, reaching the Defender Burghley Horse Trials for the first time this year represents the culmination of a journey that began with a non-horsey family, a fascination with horses and a grandmother who first took her to watch the sport she would one day compete in. JJ was never really supposed to be Kates Burghley horse. The now 12-year-old, owned by Patricia Marshall and Lesley and Philip Rocher, arrived at Kates Warwickshire sales yard which has established itself as one of the best in eventing as a young horse with a future that, like many of the horses Kate produces, was expected to involve finding the right buyer and moving on to a new home, but that never happened. He didnt sell, Kate says. He stayed with us, my mum got involved with him, and so weve moved him on up the grades. Ive owned him since he was three, so a long time.Horses dont sell for a heap of reasons, and Im fortunate JJ stayed.It was a fortunate outcome for Kate, because JJs character has gradually revealed a horse with the attributes to make it to the very top.Hes a funny balance of a horse, she explains. He can really need you and be actually quite insecure and quite cautious. But then he also can absolutely not need you.These characteristics can make JJ tricky to ride, but Kate believes it is part of what makes him so effective too.Sometimes hes a funny horse to connect with, she admits. But I think thats what makes him so good fundamentally because hes actually pretty tough on the inside and they have to be to be able to compete at this level.JJ has had his setbacks along the way, too. After finishing 48th on his Badminton debut in 2025, he had to be withdrawn from Burghley shortly before the competition after a niggling splint became too much of an issue, which also meant they were unable to line up at Badminton this Spring too. But they are here now and raring to go. Im not from a horsey backgroundKate didnt grow up in a traditionally horsey family. She was raised in London, but she says she was always fascinated by horses. My late grandmother would tell the story of when she took me to a park and police horses came by, Kate recalls. One of them was slobbering right in my face in the pram, and I just was delighted.I think it was all there, she adds. I was always really drawn to horses.Her grandparents farmed in Suffolk, and Kate found another outlet for her love of the outdoors there.I was massively involved in that, in the lambing sheds and with the cattle, she says. I was a proper outdoors girl.From those beginnings, horses gradually became more and more important, while the young-horse sales business developed alongside Kates ambition to event.Initially it probably started as a way to try and fund the eventing, she explains. But its very much become our mainstay now.It is a busy operation, and one that remains very much a family affair.The kids are on the yard all the time and its a big family effort.Kates late grandmother was the person who first took her to watch Burghley when she was a child before she even rode.I remember she brought me here when I was small, before I rode or knew what horses were, she says. I was just in awe of it all.She remembers standing at the Leaf Pit and Lion Bridge, and so finally getting to compete here means a great deal. To actually be here Ive thought of my grandmother a lot.Speaking about how she feels to be competing here, Kate says: I think my nerves are probably more fear of failure. Its such a massive team effort to get here and people put so much into it. Kate and JJ have now completed their dressage at Burghley they scored 43.5, which Kate is a little disappointed with, but they are looking ahead to the next two phases. The dressage wasnt our finest hes very capable on the flat and hes worked really hard, actually. He naturally would be a runner, and thats a little bit what came out in the test.Yet Kate is hoping that same enthusiasm could become an advantage across country.He feels really up for it, she says. Images by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentHe never lets me down: 19-year-old horse, who spends time turned out as part of a herd, leads the way after day one of Burghley dressageChronic bucker once facing a bullet takes on Burghley with Aussie first timer15 years later: Kiwi rider returns to Burghley with ex-racehorse and Melman the giraffe mascotFrom failed sale to Burghley: Caroline Pamukcu makes her debut on unlikely five-star horseHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyThe post Im fortunate he stayed: one horse and riders journey to there first Burghley appeared first on Your Horse.

I am old! exclaimed Defender Burghley first-timer Anthony Clark after his dressage test aboard Ballinaguikey Fortunus today (4 September).At 52, this is a milestone moment in his lengthy riding career. He has produced and sold 11 horses that have gone on to compete at the very top level, including the Olympics, but this is the first time he has ridden at five-star himself.Ive done loads of four stars, but never gone five-star because Ive sold the horses to pay my mortgage and pay my bills, said Anthony. But hes one thats just managed to stay with me, and I feel privileged to have him in my yard.Fortune first arrived at Anthonys yard aged nine, with the intention of producing and selling him on.A great friend of mine bought him from Vere Phillips, and she had a life change and had to sell the horse, so he came to me to be sold and I really liked him.He was only jumping 80cm, but I liked his cheeky nature, so I got a group of friends to buy him and we produced him up to three-star. Then he was worth quite a lot of money and a lady was going to buy him, but she was put off because hes got a slight arthritic change in the knee.In the end, I said Ill run him as mine. In two years hes been clear around all his four-stars, and just made things quite easy. I always said hed be a five-star horse and Im very old, so I thought nows my chance to maybe try it.A five-star that almost didnt happenAnthony has represented Great Britain twice at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Veterans for riders aged over 45 winning bronze on both occasions with another horse.Hed [Fortune] probably be quite good at that because hes very careful, but his job is this at the moment, said Anthony.Burghley is famed for being a particularly tough five-star, and it wasnt originally the plan for Anthony to make his five-star debut here.He entered Fortune for Pau last year, but a boot rub that required antibiotics ruled them out. Badminton in the spring was next on the list, only for the horse to develop cellulitis three weeks before the event.I was showjumping in Belgium four weeks ago, and I spoke to my vet and I said, What do you think? Do you think hes ready to go? And she said, Suck it up and see. Just enter him and see how he is. So we entered him, and look, by chance, Im here now.Its probably the hardest five-star. I think the terrain makes it really hard, added Anthony, who has sought advice from Caroline Powell and Louise Bell.Hes a really good jumper, so if it doesnt pan out, Ill just have to pull up, go home, and then rethink things. I only live in Cambridge, so its not very far. At least I havent travelled a million miles to get here.The one who stayedAmong the horses Anthony has sourced and produced are Jolly Bo, who competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games with Canadian rider Hawley Bennett-Awad, and Figaro Van Het Broekxhof, who won the Lycetts Grantham Cup at Belton in March 2019.It takes me a lot of pride, you know, because I sourced them, I bought them on, I loved them, said Anthony.It was never that I didnt want to do a five-star myself, I just needed to buy horses to sell on to pay bills because it costs money to keep afloat, doesnt it? Life gets in the way.Ive got some lovely horses at home. Its just a stock production line I like buying horses. Ive got 40!Image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentTeacher knows best!: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energyChronic bucker once facing a bullet takes on Burghley with Aussie first timerHe was her favourite horse: Tim Price pilots Global Quest at Burghley in memory of Georgie CampbellHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyThe post I am old!: 52-year-old rider fulfils five-star ambition at Burghley appeared first on Your Horse.

A nosenet might not be the first thing you expect to see in a five-star dressage test, but Will Coleman had good reason for fitting one to his Defender Burghley ride, Very Dignified, today (4 September).She has some allergenic symptoms; she suffered from IAD [Inflammatory Airway Disease] pretty bad when we got her back to the States for the first time, explained Will. Ive only just started experimenting. She can be a snorter, like she will be clearing her airway a lot when I ride her. Some of that is maybe nerves, but she has a very sensitive nasal passage.Will recently started riding in a nosenet to ease the 11-year-old mares symptoms.Weve really only been using it for a few weeks, but I do think it helped her. She isnt snorting as much, and she seems to be more settled in it. It might [stop] some things from getting in her nose and keep her from being so fixated on that.Shes an alpha femaleWill was asked why he brought the mare to Burghley which is commonly referred to as the toughest five-star cross-country track in the world for her debut at this level.I thought about submitting myself for a psychiatric evaluation upon arriving here, he joked. Shes 11 years old, and we felt like shes ready to contest one. This season it was either Burghley or Pau, and I think in some ways Burghley will suit her better.Shes an aggressive fighter mentality; an alpha female. She has a lot of spirit and a lot of blood in the way that she goes cross-country, and Im hoping that she brings that to the course tomorrow. Shes going to have to. Its a big track and 11 minutes 20 seconds around the toughest terrain in the world.Wills priority is to give the mare a positive experience.Its my job to sort of look after her out there tomorrow and make sure that she leaves a better horse than she arrived. Thats maybe not so result-driven, but I want to give her the best ride I can and see how she copes. Well learn a lot about each other.A special placeWill also made his five-star debut at Burghley.It was a long time ago I was 20 and had no idea what to expect. I came here and fell in love with eventing because of this place.Its the crown jewel of our sport. It represents all the things that makes eventing so special. Its always a privilege to come and ride here.Difficult preparationThe mares preparation has been less than straightforward, with Will spending much of the summer focused on his World Championship campaign with Diabolo, with whom he finished fourth individually and helped the USA to team bronze at Aachen last month.Its been less than ideal, he admitted.Wills wife and team members including Morgan Booth and Meg Pellegrini kept the horses in work at home while he was away in Germany for 10 days.[Very Dignified] was on that list for the worlds, so she was kind of going through all the same sort of galloping and training that my other two horses were going through.In some ways, I think [being away] was maybe a good thing, a chance to take a breath and relax, and settle her brain before she made the trip over here.I dont know how the preparation is going to turn out, were going to find out at the end of the weekend, but shes in good condition, and shes as ready as I could make her. Sometimes that just has to be good enough. We have to see how it works out.Images by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentI am old!: 52-year-old rider fulfils five-star ambition at BurghleyTeacher knows best!: Sam Watsons approach to riding a horse with oodles of energyHe was her favourite horse: Tim Price pilots Global Quest at Burghley in memory of Georgie CampbellHow to watch this weeks Defender BurghleyThe post Why Will Colemans alpha female mare is wearing a nosenet for her five-star debut appeared first on Your Horse.

The 2026 Midwest Indoors Series will bring back some of World Equestrian Center Wilmingtons (WEC) favorite events, along with new opportunities for exhibitors and guests to gather and enjoy the community. From social evenings at the Paddock Club to fun activities and exciting events throughout the series, there will be plenty of ways to celebrate with friends, family and dogs!Source