The Olympic gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin lit up the arena at MARS Badminton Horse Trials with a stunning performance and took the lead after the first day of dressage with the excellent mark of 22.4. They have almost five penalties over second-placed Emily King and Valmy Biats on 27.3.A new face burst onto the scene in third, first-timer Tom Woodward who, at 23 is the youngest rider in the field of 81. He scored 27.9 on the 18-year-old Low Moor Lucky, a result he described as surreal.The world champion Yasmin Ingham, also making her MARS Badminton debut, is fourth on Rehy DJ on 29.1. Oliver Townend, the early leader on Ballaghmor Class, is now in fifth place and Gemma Stevens is sixth with Chilli Knight.JL Dublin sprang to prominence with Nicola Wilson, who is commentating for Badminton TV this weekend, winning the 2021 European title. Following Nicolas serious fall in 2022, Tom took over the ride on Jamie and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnstons bay Holsteiner gelding; they have twice been placed at Kentucky and won Olympic gold in Paris last year.Dubs is a great personality and, thanks to my groom Adam, he was so relaxed today, said Tom. I was going for it and made that one mistake [when the horse broke in the extended trot], but I have done as much as I can today to stay ahead of Ros [Canter] tomorrow. He is an unbelievably talented horse and has pulled out performance after performance.Emily, whose mother, Mary, is a dual Badminton winner, had her best result last year, fourth on Valmy Biats. He is a powerful horse who can get tense, but he kept it together today and the test rode very smoothly. He is a cross-country machine, but I will need to be on my A game.Tom Woodward, who is contesting his first five-star competition, is on the World Class Podium Potential scheme and is based near Hartpury in Gloucestershire. The 18-year-old Low Moor Lucky was his first horse after ponies and wasnt backed until he was nine. Basically, he was in the last-chance saloon he was pretty feral, explained Tom. He has very low mileage and didnt do his first event until he was 11. He didnt make any mistakes today, he doesnt get wound up and he goes back to his stable for a nap.Dressage re-commences again tomorrow at 9am when Wills Oakden riding A Class Cooley will be first into the arena. The 2023 winners, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, are due into the arena at 9.28am.

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin head the leaderboard after the opening days dressage at this years Mars Badminton Horse Trials on a score of 22.4, almost five penalties clear of nearest rivals Emily King and Valmy Biats.Its a Brit-heavy top 10, which sees the first nine riders all represent the host country. Two Badminton first timers feature in the top four, just ahead of a brace of five-star winning riders. A Frenchman rounds out the top 10.1. Tom McEwen and JL DublinTom McEwen and JL Dublin impressed the dressage judges the most today (8 May), receiving a score of 22.4 for their test which was marred by just one mistake in the extended trot.[Its] a shame that our highlight piece, being the medium extended trot, broke. I just let him get too long, but you know what he was absolutely awesome, said the two-time Olympic gold medallist.He was relaxed and to show all that power and rhythm and the extended walk and his pirouettes. I mean he pulled together a super test. He got a mark that he definitely deserves even with a mistake.It is a first Badminton appearance together for this pair and they have a strong record at CCI5* level to date, having finished second at both Kentucky and Luhmuhlen, as well as third at Pau.2. Emily King and Valmy Biats One of the last competitors of the day, Emily King and Valmy Biats produced their usual consistent first-phase performance despite the 16-year-old French gelding getting slightly tense as he felt the atmosphere in the main arena. He went in there and held his breath a bit, said Emily. He still felt amazing, but he lifted and got a bit tight so I had to adapt to how he was in a certain place in the arena. The fact he did take a step and stayed so with me in the crunch movements, I was very proud of.Emily secured her first Badminton completion last year after she piloted Val into fourth place.3. Tom Woodward and Low Moor LuckyTom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky had a dream debut on the hallowed turf of Badminton, producing the test of their life for a score of 27.9 to briefly hold the lead and end the day in third.Its pretty surreal [to take the lead], said Tom. Were local, in Hartpury, and I used to come here every year to watch as a kid and wed stay in the old campsite as a family. I used to look at the jumps out there on the course and think, how do you ever do that?I was probably 13 when I decided I wanted to try and do it. Ive just been incredibly lucky to find a partner like [Lucky] because hes just immense. I cant thank the horse enough. Hes put me on the map and allowed me to pursue a career in the sport.Tom revealed Lucky is revelling in the atmosphere at the Gloucestershire five-star.Hes actually quite lazy and I normally never ride him more than once before his test and its normally for 25 minutes, continued Tom.He was quite wild last night and I thought, well, Ive got to do a bit with him this morning and he was backwards, I was kicking him along Pony Club style and I was thinking oh no, but he loves the crowd, he loves the atmosphere. It lifts him it gives him that bit more.Equally, hes never seen a crowd like that, but he just takes everything in. Hes Mr Cool. He walked out at the trot up yesterday and didnt bat an eyelid, had a look at the crowd and trotted up and down, went back to his stable and had a sleep.Hes just a super cool horse and nothing fazes him.4. Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJDespite being a World Champion and having been around the top echelons of the sport for several years, this is Yasmin Inghams first time competing at Badminton.The Isle of Man native was thrilled with the performance of Rehy DJ, the 14-year-old Irish gelding she has brought through the grades since 2017 and whom is known at home as Piglet.Hes not naturally the most big moving horse, but when hes accurate and he does things correctly then thats when hes with the marks, so Im really pleased that the judges did reward him where he was good today, said Yasmin.Its such an atmosphere in there. Its just electric to be honest, so Im delighted with him and how hes coped because he would react to noise. Going in behind Tom [McEwen] is probably not ideal for me but Im pleased with how it turned out.5. Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor ClassSecond to go on Thursday morning, Oliver Townend and his seasoned campaigner Ballaghmor Class were the leaders at the lunch break on day one.Im happy with the horse. A couple of things that could have been better but hes getting quite clever, said Oliver, who has finished second here twice with the now 18-year-old Irish gelding.Hes wild at the trot up and wild everywhere and then goes in and says Ive done enough now so got a little bit quiet maybe.Hes unreal. Hes somehow getting better and better and still improving. It just shows that if you stay doing the same things as youve done all their lives and they dont have a change in the system it feels better than ever and it looks better than ever.6. Gemma Stevens and Chilli KnightSixth position was occupied by Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight, the 2021 Bicton CCI5* winners who were very pleased to score 29.5.It was an absolute dream to get a sub 30. When I heard the first few scores I thought, well, theres no chance, Im going to be on a 38, but that horse just honestly did his best shuffling ever.We rode every blade of grass and he tried his best.He is what he is you cant make him into London 52 or Lordships Graffalo, hes not that, but he tries his best.Chilli Knight is the son of Chilli Morning, the stallion who lifted the trophy at Badminton in 2015 under William Fox-Pitt.7. Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan DoKylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do, who are making their third appearance here but have yet to complete, wound up in seventh place after changing their training regime over the winter and in the run up to the event.I dont think its anything to do with Badminton or George but hes always been an autumn campaigner, explained Kylie, who has twice finished in the top 10 with George at Pau as well as occupying sixth place at Luhmuhlen.His best results have always been in the autumn, so I didnt give him long off this winter and I kept him in work to see whether its like a body conditioning type of thing rather than a seasonal thing.Weve changed a few things at home and its made him a bit stronger, continued Kylie.Ive got these raised sleepers and he does 100 of them a day so that hes worked smarter, not harder, hopefully for all the right reasons.SRS Kan Do is a 15-year-old Irish gelding who is owned byDownton Abbeyactor, Michael Fox.8. Bubby Upton and ColaBubby Upton and Cola, who were 10thhere last year, ended day one in eighth on a mark of 30.2.I just had a debrief with my coach Amy Woodhead and you dont want to have her on the mic, shes quite angry with the mark, but regardless Ive never been one to focus on that, said Bubby.Im thrilled with how the system is working and how he went. Hes become really consistent at this level now. Ever since Badminton last year when for the first time we got him into the right frame and place and then he repeated that at Maryland [five-star] and throughout the season as well at Hartpury. He came out this year feeling very fit and well.Bubby suffered a serious accident in August 2023 after falling from a horse while schooling. The 26-year-old broke several vertebrae in her back and there was a fear she would never walk again. She underwent a seven-hour operation and has made a remarkable recovery, but revealed she had a further operation following Maryland last year.It [her recovery] was a lot tougher than I had anticipated. I thought I would just bounce back and be absolutely fine, but mentally going straight back to square one I didnt have to learn to walk again and things like that but I had zero strength, zero muscles left in me, so it was quite demoralising, said Bubby.It took a lot longer than we thought [to recover]. It wasnt until February time that we managed to get on top of the pain. Im back to riding like nine horses a day now which is so nice.9. Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker BoyOccupying ninth spot on a score of 30.6 are Will Rawlin and the 13-year-old Irish gelding Ballycoog Breaker Boy.I was surprised at how they were marking today. I thought Ive got to put that behind me and just go in and do what I know the horse and myself can do and we did that. Ive had very good training sessions with Tracie [Robinson] for the last couple of days, said Will.There was a lot of walk and he tensed which he didnt last year so thats something to think about for the future, maybe put some padded ears on or something just to dull that atmosphere.There is definitely a lot of atmosphere today. He was really rideable. Hes a big, long horse, so I do find it difficult sometimes to get him connected and engaged in the test, but I feel we got that today.The pair finished 24thhere last year.10. Gaspard Maksud and ZaragozaRounding out the top 10 and breaking the British dominance are Frances Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza on 30.7.The pair entered the arena straight after Tom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky had produced their impressive test and were affected by the ambiance.Im delighted with her. I know she can do a bit better than that, its a big atmosphere and Tom before just wound my horse up a little bit, but she was very serious in the work, said Gaspard. Its a mistake free test, a couple of little things can tune up to get it better, but Im delighted with it.Images by Tim WilkinsonUseful linksThe dressage continues tomorrow, with another 41 riders due into the main arena. First out will be Wills Oakden on A Class Cooley at 9am.All the latest news from BadmintonHow to watch Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025View the current leaderboardDressage timesThe post Top 10 in pictures: Tom McEwen leads the way after first day of dressage at Badminton appeared first on Your Horse.

There are 21 first timers making it to the start line this year, the first into the arena being Senne Vervaecke riding Google Van Alsingen, a member of a strong Belgium contingent.Senne, from Lennik just outside Brussels, completed Pau last season, and the pair has represented Belgium at both the 2022 World Championships and the 2023 European Championships, and he comes from a family steeped in eventing both his father Kris and sister Silke have also represented their country.I was very pleased with my horse, she gave me a great feeling, he said. For the first half of the test she was amazing but she then got a little scared of a camera at one end of the arena, before behaving well again. Im looking forward to riding the cross-country on Saturday.Next up were Jrme Robin and Black Ice, representing Germany. Jrme is based at the famous equestrian facility at Warendorf where he is trained by former German team rider Peter Thomsen. He has represented his country across the levels winning Young Rider team gold in 2017.Black Ice is bred for the job. Sired by the showjumper Vechta he is out of a mare by Touchdown, the sire of former Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh.Hes normally quite good at dressage, but maybe I did a bit too much before the test so it wasnt quite what we wanted. After walking the cross-country weve gone a bit quiet, definitely less jokes the horses will need to be brave all the way round.Japans sole representative is Ryuzo Kitajima who was part of the ground-breaking Japanese team in Paris where they won the countrys first eventing Olympic medal, bronze. Ryuzo and his Badminton entry Feroza Nieumoed already have a Burghley double clear and a 15th place at Pau under their belts.Im very pleased, he can be a bit spooky and that camera at A was very close, but today wasnt bad.Amateur rider Seppe Vilain is a civil engineering graduate, and he works full time as a functional consultant. With Badminton entry Kawa de la Cour Z he has already completed his first five-star, Luhmuhlen. Kawa was initially produced and competed by Seppes father who still owns him.I played it a bit safe I think, but he remained very calm and focussed. Im very pleased.Local rider Tom Woodward (pictured) is the youngest competitor this year. He is partnering the 18-year-old Low Moor Lucky, and this is the first five star for them both. Lucky wasnt backed until he was nine years old and Tom described him as pretty feral. The pair stormed in to the lead early on Thursday afternoon, and finished day one in third place.That was pretty surreal, but I did quietly expect him to do that I just didnt tell anyone. he said after his test. Ive always believed hes a great horse, which puts a lot of pressure on me. Weve learnt our trade together.Jack Mantel had a longer drive to Badminton; he is based near Belsay in Northumberland where he runs a production and sales yard. Jack Daniels was originally aquired for Jacks partner to field master with the Tynedale Hunt.Im glad thats over, he joked. Its our first time at this level, but I will give it a shot on Saturday.Arne Bergendahl, a German amateur rider who works for the city council of Wesel, comes from an equestrian background; his father Helmut competed at four-star in the1980s and now runs a successful breeding programme.His ride, Luthien NRW, was bred by Helmut and the pair has completed Luhmuhlen five-star. They posted a score of 36.2.Rather surprisingly the current World Champion Yasmin Ingham was making her debut at Badminton with Rehy DJ. They lie in fourth place at the end of day one.He is not the most naturally moving horse and going in behind Tom [McEwen]wasnt ideal! But I am delighted with him; hes on good form and weve had a good start.Lizzie Baugh said of her ride B Exclusive, It has been a huge dream to come here and so special to be here [for the first time] with a horse we bred and my sister backed. I have been riding him for 11 years, since I was 16 and at school.Raphael Losano brought Thursdays action to a close. It is the Brazilians first five-star, although they represented their country at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His ride, Withington, scored a solid 34.0 for his test.

In one study, the majority of horses with transposition of the ventral lamina from C6 to C7 were Warmbloods. | ThinkstockThe Kester News Hour at the annualAmerican Association of Equine Practitioners Conventionhighlight key advancements in equine research worldwide. In 2024s edition Carrie Finno, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of veterinary genetics and the Gregory L. Ferraro Endowed Director of the Center for Equine Health at the University of California, Davis, and Katie Seabaugh, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, associate professor of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, shared their top picks from recent studies in their areas of practice interest.Studying Graying Speed and Melanoma in HorsesFinno began with research by Rubin et al. (2024), in which researchers identified a genetic variation in horses that determines their greying speed and melanoma incidence.Graying is caused by a duplication of a 4.6 kb (kilobase, a unit of measurement used to help designate the length of DNA or RNA) intronic sequence in syntaxin 17 (STX17), said Finno. If horses have one copy of the variant, then they are not gray. Gray horses with two copies of STX17 gray slowly and have lower rates of melanoma but, if a horse has three copies, then they are the fast-graying horses linked with melanoma.For example, if a gray mare has the genes G3/G1 and the gray stallion is G3/G1, then the foal could be G3/G3, meaning he or she will gray very fast and has a higher likelihood of developing melanoma. The results could lead not only to better identification of horses likely to gray early or pass on gray-with-age genes but also to a better understanding of how the mutation affects horses health.Detecting Atrial Fibrillation in HorsesIn the second study Finno covered (Vernemmen et al., 2024), researchers described a method for veterinarians to detect atrial fibrillation in horses using an implantable loop recorder (ILR).The ILRs can be placed under the skin in the left lateral thorax overlying the heart, said Finno. Practitioners use these to detect arrhythmias as a possible cause of collapse, poor performance, or monitor for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in a research setting. The device can now collect information and email the clinician, improving the speed with which AF can be identified.Be aware that some false positives can be a result of bradycardia (when the heart beats slower than normal) rather than AF because it is a human product, said Finno. And we need to appreciate that AF is likely genetic.Identifying A Cause of Neck Pain in HorsesSeabaugh presented a study (Hendersen et al., 2024) in which researchers described the incidence of neck pain without neurologic disease in horses with transposition of the ventral lamina from C6 to C7 of the cervical vertebrae. The ventral lamina is part of the transverse process, and this ventral aspect of C6 can move to the C7 vertebra, said Seabaugh. When located on C6, the longus colli muscle attaches to the ventral lamina, which is a cervical flexor. Movement of the transverse process likely affects the biomechanics of the neck.In the retrospective study, researchers looked at radiographs taken from 2020 to 2022, including a total of 135 horses. Reasons for radiographs included routine neurologic exam, neck pain, and performance-related behavior changes.Key findings were:The researchers saw transposition in 20% of the horses that was not significantly associated with a final diagnosis, meaning an equal number of horses with or without the transposition fell into each diagnosis; andTransposition was more common in horses that demonstrated pain during palpation of the neck (31%) than those without pain (18%).Additionally, 63% (17 out of 27) of the horses with transposition were Warmbloods.Prevalence of Neck Pathology in Warmblood HorsesLooking at Warmbloods more closely, Seabaugh presented a second study (Sue Dyson et al., 2024) where researchers described the prevalence of C6 and C7 transposition in the breed.This study included only Warmbloods: 127 controls and 96 horses with neurologic abnormalities, neck pain or stiffness, or neck-related forelimb lameness, Seabaugh said. The researchers found 24.2% of horses had C6 and C7 transposition. Horses without neurologic issues (the controls) were more likely to have this variation than those with neurologic abnormalities.The conclusion from both studies was that there is no association between C6/7 transposition and neurologic disease, and it is just a variant occurring in up to one-quarter of all horses, said Seabaugh.Updated ACVIM EHV Consensus StatementFinno broke down the updated ACVIM consensus statement for equine herpesvirus (Lunn et al., 2024) for the audience.Three key takeaways from the new guidelines included:Researchers have seen minimal evidence that the vaccine protects horses against equine herpesvirus-1 infection, but they still recommend vaccinating.Pharmacological treatments have minimal effect (except valacyclovir if administered in advance).In large outbreaks nasal swabbing typically suffices for diagnosing affected horses; however, when abortion occurs on the premises, veterinarians need to test blood samples.In a study following the herpesvirus outbreak in Valencia, Spain, Sixty-eight percent of horses with neurologic disease returned to exercise, and over half returned to full performance, said Finno. But the less ataxic they were on presentation, the more likely they were to fully recover. If there was urinary and vascular compromise, then they were more likely to be euthanized.

If you enjoy jumping, at some point you will have experienced your horse chipping in a stride before they take off for a fence. Perhaps you werent on a great stride and so your clever horse is solving the problem for you or maybe you felt there was nothing wrong with the stride at all, but your horse disagreed.According to FEI and British Showjumping accredited coach Leanne Heslop, there are a few things that need to be looked at in this situation and it is all focused on one thing: improving the quality of the canter. A good showjumping canter needs to have a good rhythm and tempo, with a stride that is even and correct in length, she explains.Why do horses chip in?Lack of canter rhythm or energyAccording to Leanne, a horse will tend to chip in an extra stride if the rider isnt in a rhythm or hasnt seen a distance and so starts to change the rhythm or energy of the canter by pulling or kicking on the approach.Instead of interfering if you cant see the distance, stay the same, she advises. Remain balanced, support the horse between your hand and leg and let them sort it out.Riders eyeline is too lowThe other thing to remember is to keep your eyes up. One of the most frequent errors I come across when coaching is riders staring at the base of the jump on the approach, especially if there is a filler, says Leanne. Your horse follows your eyeline, so if youre looking down into the jump, thats where you are positioning the horse. Your head is the heaviest part of your body and if youre looking down, your shoulders will tilt, your chest will come forward and your horsewill probably be on the forehand.When this happens, it makes it harder for the horse to get off the ground, and so theyre inclined to put in an extra stuffy stride.Instead, I encourage riders to put their eye line above the jump, or at least on the top pole of the fence, adds Leanne. Upon take off you need to look at where you want to be going next.Try these exercisesLeanne uses the following three exercises to develop a horses canter at home. After warming up, give these a go you can do one per session, or mix it up, depending on how your horse is finding it.1, Find the right stride lengthThis exercise will encourage a better stride length with good ground coverage and will also help to hone the riders eye for a stride, says Leanne. The aim is to ride three equal strides between the two poles.How to set it upPlace two poles 42ft (12.8m) apart on the long side of your arena or schooling field.How to ride itIn canter, come around to ride over the poles. Focus on riding a straight line on your approach to the fence and during the getaway. Dont cut corners.Try to ride the same canter between the poles as before and after. Dont mess about in between. The aim is to establish a regular, even stride and continue to ride this.If your horse is fitting more than three strides between the poles you need to think about riding a bigger canter that covers more ground per stride. This doesnt mean going faster.Once you have developed the canter and your horse is covering more ground to reach the take-off point for the second pole on an even three strides on both reins, make this pole into a cavaletti (or a small upright).Dont change the canter just because you now have a fence instead of a pole. You are keeping it small to help build your horses confidence jumping from this stride.If this is going well, change the first pole into a cavaletti, too. Again, dont change anything about the canter. Establish a rhythm before the first cavaletti and ride positively to give your horse the confidence to jump from this stride length.The next step If you and your horse are ready, make the distance slightly longer and raise the cavaletti into small verticals. Allow for a generous ground line in front of the fences, especially as they get bigger, as this will help you to develop your eye for a better take-off spot, advises Leanne. It will also give you a feel for the level of energy and ground cover you need in the canter so that your horse has the confidence to take off and not get too close.2, Maintain the canterThis exercise will help you learn to maintain the canter and stay in a consistent rhythm while creating engagement and bend, explains Leanne. In turn, this will also improve the quality of the canter and suppleness through the horses back.How to set it upSet out four poles on a 20m circle at 12, 3, 6 and 9 oclock. This will usually give three strides between each pole, but you can make the circle bigger or smaller depending on the horse you are riding.How to ride itIn canter, come onto the circle of poles and find the point where you can ride three strides between each pole.Aim for a consistent rhythm and tempo, landing with each canter pole in the middle of your horses stride.Once the horse has the hang of this, try playing around with the line. Come on the inside curve and ride two strides, or move to the outside curve and ride four. As you do this, focus on maintaining the same rhythm and tempo.If this is going well, raise alternate poles, or all four, up into cavaletti. Remember that this isnt about height its about establishing a good quality canter.3, Ditch the chip inThis exercise is helpful for riders who have a good quality canter and rhythm on the approach, but who find that their horse chips in despite this, says Leanne. Most horses who chip in an extra stride land in a heap after jumping with all the activity taken out of the canter. This will impact the next fence as the landing and getaway sort out the approach to the next jump, and the approach sorts out the landing and the getaway.How to set it upPut up a vertical fence at a height you are comfortable with but one which wont overface the horse. Place a ground pole 18-21ft (5.5-6m) in front of the fence. Place a second one 30-33ft (9-10m) after the jump.How to ride itApproach in canter, focusing on riding a consistent rhythm to the pole. Because of the poles positioning you will know that you have one stride to the jump, so you can get used to judging the take-off point.After the jump, you need to continue riding to reach the second pole. This pole will encourage you to ride forward after the fence. Doing this will get you into the habit of reacting upon landing to sort out the canter for the approach to the next jump.Leanne Heslop is a BHSII, BS and FEI accredited coach based in North Yorkshire who has been training horses and riders for over 25 years. She specialises in coaching showjumpers and training young performance horses.Main image (stock) Your Horse Library/Sally NewcombRelated contentTina Cooks top tips for jumping on grassLucinda Green explains how a horse sees a fence *Video*Nine course-walking tips from Olympic gold medallist Ben MaherFive common problems with a riders jumping position solvedThe post How to stop a horse chipping in a stride when jumping appeared first on Your Horse.

Officers from the Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Teamvisited The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth last weekas part of Operation Gallop, a national initiative which seeks to tackle equine-related crime and promote animal welfare.As part of Operation Gallop, which took place between Monday 28 April and Sunday 4 May, the Rural Affairs Team engaged with local equine communities to offer crime prevention advice and to deepen their understanding of equine welfare.We visited The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth earlier this year to give them crime prevention advice and they kindly offered to carry out a training session for our officers in return, said rural affairs officer PC Lucy Wyatt.As a Rural Affairs Team, we need to be aware of many different issues affecting local communities and as Devon and Cornwall are largely rural areas, we know that many people enjoy horse riding or keep donkeys.The force also has a responsibility to protect animals from neglect or cruelty and the training offered by The Donkey Sanctuary has been invaluable in educating the team about how to spot potential welfare issues.How donkey behaviour differsMany people dont realise that donkeys behave very differently to horses, for example. They are more stoic, prone to hoof problems and obesity, and respond differently to stress and handling. Training helps to ensure that officers dont make incorrect assumptions based on horse or other equine behaviour.We are always looking to improve our knowledge and are grateful for the time staff at the charity have spent with us.Staff at The Donkey Sanctuary gave the officers training which focused on the unique behaviour and welfare needs of donkeys as well as the practicalities of equine identification and passport legislation.Here at The Donkey Sanctuary, we have a team of dedicated Donkey Welfare Advisers who can provide free, expert advice and support to those who own and work with donkeys and mules across Great Britain, said Hannah Bryer, head of welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary.Welcoming the Devon & Cornwall Rural Policing Team to our headquarters this week provided a valuable opportunity for officers to learn about the needs and behaviour of donkeys and mules. This knowledge will help them in the field and give them a greater understanding of the support available through our welfare team.Partnerships like this play a crucial role in helping us reach more donkeys and their owners. By working together, we can strengthen our impact within communities and continue our mission to improve the lives of donkeys every day.Images The Donkey Sanctuary.Related contentRescue donkeys help create ideal habitat for rare fungi, flora and faunaNew enrichment paddock for some of The Donkey Sanctuarys smallest residentsThe Donkey Sanctuary rolls out vaccination programmes to prevent rabiesProtest outside Amazon HQ calls for sale of donkey skin products to be bannedThe post The Donkey Sanctuary educates local police force in effort to boost donkey welfare appeared first on Your Horse.

Rishi Persad, who will front the BBCs coverage of MARS Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday afternoon, has been a familiar face in sports presenting since the Athens Olympics and is well known to followers of ITV Racing on which he displays an impressive grasp of form. However, his rise to prominence in specialist eventing coverage has been a relatively recent occurrence.I grew up watching sports such as snooker, tennis and golf as a fan. It was the same with show jumping and eventing, which used to be on the television a lot, explains Rishi. There was always a base of interest as with any top-quality sport where you recognise athletic ability. I can look at a horse forever my first appreciation is of the physical stature, the power and the speed.Rishi grew up in Trinidad where his parents owned and bred racehorses. My dad wanted to be the Sheikh Mohammed of the Caribbean and I loved going racing with him from a very young age. He had a prize mare called Bluebell Hill that produced a foal called Comanechi, who turned into quite a decent racehorse.Coming from a small island, just being able to take part made it an achievement and I learnt that there are levels of attainment in eventing, with its multiple variables, besides winning that you can be proud of. This is why people dream of riding at Badminton and come away with a sense of real pride and achievement.When asked who he most admires in eventing, he singles out William Fox-Pitts final cross-country round at Badminton last year on Grafennacht. It was the skill and the way he sat so quietly on the mare, yet imbued her with confidence. I think of [cricketer] David Gower having the perfect timing or Ernie Els swinging the golf club.And I love the way Tom McEwen sits on a horse to watch him on Toledo de Kerser at the Tokyo Olympics was magical.A round-up of all the Badminton action, culminating in the final show jumping finale, will be shown on BBC2 on Sunday afternoon.

Australian rider Samantha Cesnik is making her Mars Badminton Horse Trials debut on Graftango, a 14-year-old mare she acquired from the breeder Laura Hedberg five years ago after failing to sell.Being a breeder you dont pick what you breed and they never really got on, said Samantha, who is based at Chedington Equestrian in Dorset and trains with Sam Griffiths and Nicola Wilson. Shes a tricky mare sometimes she chooses her people and after nine months of being for sale her breeder rang and said, look can you just you just come and ride this horse and I did.I thought I could really get on with this. I feel like she chose me. Then we had Covid and that gave us a chance to get organised. She only did her first four-star two-and-a-half years ago, so shes pretty green. Shes 14 but very low mileage and a real warrior.Samantha will fly home to Australia next week in order to campaign the string of horses with a run at the Melbourne International Horse Trials on the cards in June.Im going to try and have one foot in each country for a while and clock up some frequent flyers, she said.Graftango will remain in the UK and be aimed at Burghley.Shes never seen mudSamantha and Graftango arrived in Europe in October last year in order to contest the French CCI5*, Pau.She only had 10 days between getting off the plane and trotting up, so Pau was like a big ask, said Samantha. Then it rained. Shes never seen mud and it was proper mud, so that was all a baptism of water I suppose, rather than fire.The mare spent the winter with the riders trainer Briana Burgess while Samantha returned to her yard in the southern Australian state of Victoria, near Melbourne.She had this beautiful French winter which was perfect for her, [because its] very similar to our winter, and I didnt bring her [to the UK] until February.Briana was able to bring her back into work for me and get her ticking, said Samantha.Samantha added that the warm weather in the build up to Badminton and the top-of-the-going for tomorrows cross-country phase will really suit the mare.Grooming backgroundSamantha is a former groom and groomed for Brazils Carlos Parro at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen.I shouldnt tell you guys this, but I do have a quiet little girl in me saying that if I somehow made the [World Championships] team next year, it would be 20 years since I groomed at Aachen.Samantha has also competed in dressage in the past.it just means when you get to this level, I knew exactly what I was bringing this horse here to deal with and theres probably other horses Ive thought yeah lets put this on an aeroplane. This one as I say shes a warrior you know like shes a real battler and I knew that she would come here and try hard to grow so I hope she does that for me this week.Samantha has also competed in dressage in the past.Twenty years ago I came to Europe and trained at PSI in Germany. I did a lot of dressage because I was really bad at it and Ive still got a way to go.I still run some dressage horses at home but its hard to have one foot in each camp. Id like to come back to the dressage when Im getting older. Its my semi-retirement plan when I dont want to keep jumping big obstacles.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentAll the latest news from BadmintonHow to watch Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025Badminton app is relaunched with new interactive featuresThe post I feel like she chose me: former groom sets sights on first Badminton completion with warrior mare appeared first on Your Horse.

Section Key Points Understanding Flooding and Its Causes Occurs due to heavy rainfall, storm surges, and snowmelt. 2025 saw intensified weather patterns leading to flooding, e.g., Mississippi River tributaries flooding. Recent Flooding Events in 2025 Severe weather outbreaks and flooding in lower Mississippi Valley and Mid-South. Heavy rainfall in Little Rock, Arkansas. Record river levels in Western Kentucky. Impact of Flooding on Daily Life Displacement and property loss, e.g., in Western Kentucky. Economic strains across local sectors and infrastructure damage. Health concerns due to contaminated waters and mental health issues. Preparation Strategies Early warning systems for timely evacuations. Flood-resistant construction materials and designs. Community research and planning for vulnerable areas. Recovery and Support Community support through volunteering and donating. Government assistance in repairs and rebuilding. Long-term planning with flood mitigation integration. Conclusion Emphasizes readiness and resilience against flooding by understanding dynamics, sharing knowledge, and adapting to future challenges. Navigating Nature's Fury: Coping with Unexpected Flooding and its Impact on Daily LifeFlooding, a formidable force of nature, doesn't just flow through landscapesit upends daily life. This article delves into the multifaceted impact of flooding and offers insights into community resilience.Understanding Flooding and Its CausesFlooding occurs when an area is overwhelmed by water due to factors like heavy rainfall, storm surges, and snowmelt. Particularly in 2025, weather patterns have intensified, exacerbating flood risks across the globe. For instance, from April 1st to 6th, heavy rains flooded the Mississippi River tributaries across Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Arkansas (source).Recent Flooding Events in 2025 Severe Weather Outbreaks: Beginning April 2, a weather outbreak led to widespread flooding in the lower Mississippi Valley and Mid-South, persisting until April 5th and extending into the Southeast by April 6th (source). Heavy Rainfall: Little Rock, Arkansas, experienced nearly double its typical April rainfall between April 2 and April 6 (source). Flooding in Western Kentucky: Here, the river reached its second-highest record level, causing havoc in cities like Frankfort (source).Impact of Flooding on Daily LifeFlooding can derail daily routines and impose significant distress on communities. Let's examine its diverse impacts:Displacement and Property LossFloodwaters force thousands to evacuate and abandon cherished homes. In Western Kentucky, historical water levels led to widespread property devastation (source).Economic StrainsThe economic ramifications of flooding ripple across sectorsfrom agriculture to services, plunging local businesses into crisis. Infrastructure damage further bleeds resources, intensifying recovery efforts (source).Health ConcernsContaminated floodwaters carry diseases and risk public health; mental health challenges arise from the trauma of such disasters (source).Coping with Flooding: Preparation and RecoveryCommunities cannot completely deter floods but can bolster their resilience with preparedness and recovery strategies.Preparation Strategies Early Warning Systems: Systems such as those by the National Weather Service, which provided timely alerts during the April 2025 events, are critical for timely evacuations (source). Flood-Resistant Construction: Adopting materials and designs specifically for resilience can drastically mitigate damage (source). Community Research and Planning: Using tools like My Community Explorer aids in identifying and bolstering the at-risk, underserved communities (source).Recovery and SupportFacilitating effective recovery requires synchronized efforts from community members and institutions combined. Community Support: Volunteering and donating time and resources significantly assist in rebuilding efforts (source). Government Assistance: Financial aid from government resources provides immediate relief for repairs and rebuilding (source). Long-term Planning: Proper planning should integrate flood mitigation strategies into future infrastructure projects (source).ConclusionFloodings destructive power underscores the necessity of readiness and resilience. By gaining an understanding of flooding dynamics and influences, communities can better posture themselves against future episodes. In facing climatic challenges, it is essential for affected communities to share knowledge, support each other, and adapt to forge a safer, more resilient future.Whether residing in flood-vulnerable locales or evaluating broader impacts, informing and preparing yourself is vital to flood mitigation. To learn more about staying prepared, explore Just Horse Riders' offerings like Stable Rugs and Turnout Rugs for your equine partners during emergencies.

The judges of the annual best tradestand competition had an enviable task, with such a superb array of displays to explore, yet also an extremely tricky one, given the high standard and vast range. In the end, Nick Arkell, Gale Dale, Bridget Burbidge and James Gegg chose prize-winners that demonstrate the eclectic selection that is such a feature of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials.The Dartmoor Shepherd, purveyors of luxurious products made from the fleeces of native Dartmoor sheep, won the 6m and under section, with clothing brand Newmarket 875 second and African Horse Safaris third.Joules, a regular Badminton presence, was named the winner of the over-6m section, with Equestrian Reflections, makers of arena mirrors, second and Caledonian Play, sellers of wooden play equipment, third.In the multi/pavilion category, Sophie April Mann Textiles Design took top honours, followed by Turner & Bell (in the Country Living pavilion) and Go Emu Ltd (Eden Crafts).