Category Archives: Eventing

A combination of events that challenge competitors to participate in dressage, cross-country and showjumping.

PREPARING FOR BADMINTON: EXCLUSIVE INSIGHT

April 12, 2017

Horse Scout catches up with two of their sponsored riders, Joseph Murphy and Gubby Leech, to find out what the month prior to riding at Badminton involves.

Most event riders grow up dreaming of riding at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials, based in the heart of the Cotswolds. It takes years, sometimes decades of training and hard graft to reach the required 4* level and earn those elusive FEI points to be applicable to enter.

Horse Scout asks two of their sponsored riders, Joseph Murphy and Gubby Leech to provide insight into the one month leading up to the big event.

The horse’s training

Joseph Murphy, Irish Olympic event rider, is entered to ride Sportsfield Othello, a 16 year old gelding by Ricardo Z and out of Moyview Lady and co-owned with the brilliantly supportive Alison Schmutz.

Joseph explained that the first two weeks of April are focused on reaching the horse’s fitness goals with a mixture of galloping and swimming to build cardiovascular fitness and stamina. He gallops ‘Frankie’ every 3^rd and 5^th day followed by a swim and always icing the legs afterwards to reduce inflammation and prevent injury. In fact, Joseph ices the legs of all his horses after they are ridden each day. This fortnight is a ‘scary time for injuries’ said Joseph, and when you would look to do any necessary veterinary work to ensure the horse is in optimal condition.

This intense fitness work will then taper right down and the last two weeks of April focus on technical training, practising dressage movements from the test, agility jumping and specific exercises to fine tune the horse.

Gubby Leech, British 4* event rider, is entered on Antoinette Denham-Harding’s 12 year old ISH gelding Xavier, by Clover Echo and out of Knightfield Sally.

Gubby is based at the quiet and beautiful Clarendon Park Estate in Wiltshire. He does all his fitness training on the forgiving old turf in the grounds of the estate. There is a perfectly steep hill that Gubby does repetitions galloping up and letting Xavier rest on the way down. They do fitness work every four days and will have their last gallop on the Saturday before Badminton week, with a ‘pipe opener’ after dressage on the Friday afternoon. Gubby said ‘Xavier is a strong and electric horse’ so he puts a lot of work into him to keep the extra fizz to a minimum! The technical training involves weekly dressage training with Lizzie Murray throughout April and showjumping training with William Fox-Pitt. Xavier is a keen horse in the ring, sometimes making up too much ground in combinations. Practising grid exercises at home helps him to shorten his stride in doubles and trebles, especially if the course builder likes to use short distances.

The horse’s well-being

Joseph will turn ‘Frankie’ out every day on his own so he can have a pick of grass, relax and feel the sun on his back. Joseph chooses not to put protective boots on when turning Frankie out because he tends to be sensible in the field and he would rather keep the legs cool. Regular massages and some physiotherapy throughout April also help get Frankie in the best physical condition possible.

Gubby entrusts the multi-skilled Sue Devereux to keep Xavier in good condition. Sue is an equine vet, chiropractor and acupuncturist who will treat Xavier 2-3 times this April using a variety of techniques. In the stable, Xavier wears a magnetic rug and magnetic boots to optimise blood flow and recovery. He is turned out ‘bootless’ from the time he is ridden in the morning until 8pm when the horses get late feeds. This turnout time helps Xavier chill out and unwind.

Feeding

Joseph is very intuitive and he judges visually and by the feel of the horses on whether their feed needs increasing or decreasing. He monitors each horse closely to ensure it is fed the right mix of hard feed, haylage and supplements. Joseph slightly increases the feed on Frankie’s hardest days of work. Two weeks before Badminton Frankie’s feed regime will be set and won’t change leading up to the event. Joseph uses top quality feeds, Mervue supplements and he brings his own haylage over to Badminton from his base in Northern Ireland.

Like Joseph, Gubby also uses quality supplements to support the nutritional requirements of his horses. Gubby uses an organic lucerne which is soaked first and helps keep Xavier hydrated, in addition to using high quality linseed, a balancer and electrolytes. Xavier receives 3 feeds a day whilst having his weight, condition and energy closely monitored. He can very quickly go off his food at competitions so it is a fine art making sure he gets what he needs!

Rider Fitness

Joseph rides all day long from the moment he wakes to the end of the day. He regularly competes 5 horses a day, even at Intermediate and Advanced level, meaning he is extremely fit from his time in the saddle. However, Joseph does extra core stability exercises to help improve his position, balance, core and overall fitness. He is following a 6 week core stability programme and he does the exercises before bed. Did you ever wonder what gives Andrew Nicholson, otherwise known as ‘Mr Stickability’ his amazingly secure seat? The answer is having a rock solid core.

Gubby is in the saddle riding horses back to back all day until the moment he gets home. Having two young children means most of his evening is spent overseeing bath-time and coaxing them to go to sleep! Gubby focuses on eating as healthy as possible, cutting out sugar and only has the occasional drink at special occasions, in order to maintain his perfect competition weight. His wife Sarah is an organic girl so the family gets fed very well!

Rider Mindset

Gubby has previously entered Badminton twice but sadly had to withdraw the horses before the event on both occasions. Combining this with a good Burghley experience in 2016 for this duo, Gubby feels ready. He is ‘in a good space, riding well and has a good partnership’ with his ride, Xavier.

Increasingly, top athletes are using Sports Psychologists to help give them the competitive edge. People talk about ‘marginal gains’ and this simply means that if you have a group of athletes, in this case riders, who are all equally talented on paper with equally talented horses, the rider who wins is the person who performs best on the day. Good sleep and being well rested, thriving under pressure, feeling confident, and focusing only on your performance and not worrying about those around you, are all factors that determine a rider’s overall performance. Doing these things well can make all the difference.

Joseph works with Charlie Unwin, Olympic Performance Psychologist across five sports. Since working with Charlie at the start of 2017, Joseph has been out winning most weekends this season and has never looked better! The work with Charlie helps Joseph to focus on what matters most when it comes to performance and to successfully block out all other distractions.

Horse Scout would like to thank Joseph and Gubby for sharing some of their practises and we wish them the best of luck for May! We look forward to an exciting four days of competition and wait in anticipation to see the new cross country course designed by Eric Winter. Only one question remains- who will be holding the famous Badminton trophy come Sunday afternoon?

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British Dressage Buying A Pony Dressage Eventing General Horse Breeds Sports Horses Stallions Stallions At Stud

Premium Pony Stallions Joins Horse Scout

March 10, 2017

Horse Scout is delighted to have one of the most exciting premium pony stallions in the UK listed with them. Chartsturmer WE is the exquisite, 4 year old, chestnut pony stallion, by Caramel FH and owned by Ann-Marie Manning and ridden by sister Jennifer Manning.

“We met the Horse Scout team at the Bury Farm Stallion show and agreed that Horse Scout would be a great platform to promote Chartsturmer WE from” confirmed the Manning sisters.

The incredibly smart Chartsturmer WE achieved his Premium status grading and licence with Weser Ems in Vechta, Germany in 2015, where he was only 1 of 5 colts to achieve the prestigious title.

At only 4 years of age this beautifully tempered pony displays three impressive and balanced paces. An elevated, powerful, yet graceful trot with a wonderfully active hind leg, a superbly active walk and canter, that already display so much scope and potential for his future, both as a competition pony and breeding stallion.

Purchased as a yearling, it has always been the Manning’s aim to both produce ‘Charti’ as a leading competition pony and breeding stallion.

“Our long term aim is to produce him as an FEI dressage pony, but also to help dressage pony breeding within the UK. We saw that the British Breeding industry was in need of a stallion like Chartsturmer WE, and it has always been an aim of ours to help improve this area of the industry” added Jennifer Manning.

Backed in 2016 Charti is now into his ridden career and will feature in the Northern Stallion Show later in March, along with Stallions AI in April. Ann-Marie and Jennifer also plan to aim him at the British Dressage Young Pony classes later this year, as part of his own competition pathway and to build his own profile as both an elite competition and pony stallion.

“He is aimed at the competition mare and we will be looking to work with approved mares, but he has only got one breeding season under him at the moment, with 2 offspring due this season. As much as it is our aim to support the dressage pony breeding industry in the UK, we have also had interest from the eventing market looking to produce smaller event horses with high quality dressage paces.”

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Oliver Townend for Horse Scout

January 17, 2017

Eleanore Kelly catches up with Horse Scout Ambassador Oliver Townend, about his journey so far, finding good horses, paying the bills and his computer illiteracy.

Oliver has had another momentous year. The Shropshire-based rider claimed the Number One spot in the British Eventing rankings for the third year running. He finished a staggering 1000 points ahead of any other rider on a total of 2,341 points. There were numerous top ten finishes at International events for Oliver this year, including becoming the first British rider to win Adelaide CIC3* on a horse he had only ridden a few times before competing! The icing on the cake for Oliver was winning the very first Event Rider Masters Series, pocketing £74,000 in the process.

“It was a huge relief to win it” explained Oliver, who has prepared and campaigned several horses with this series in mind. “To me the ERM is a huge step forward in the sport- it’s a concept that works and for the riders and owners the prize money is seriously attractive. It has certainly made a massive difference in terms of my income this year. I didn’t run the horses I knew would be competitive in this class and people expected me to win it from when it was announced. So it was a relief when I did.”

Oliver has always been famed for his grit and determination. Renowned for his ability to get the best out of notoriously difficult horses. In recent years with such success behind him, he has had the luxury of being able to buy and compete better quality horses but he still relishes the challenge of a difficult one. “I love what I do and always have but riding nice horses is the answer to everything for me now. If I am going to event, I want to be on good horses” he says. “It’s difficult to find them and we have to be open minded- new rides come from all angles. I buy quite a lot from Ireland of all ages but I still have room for more owners. I am still sent horses that are talented but perhaps don’t suit other riders and I make the best of those.”

There are a number of stars in the Townend stable. “Too many to list but I really rate Cooley SRS, who is only 9 and finished third at Boekelo” he says. He also cites Cooley Masterclass and King Joules as “exceptionally talented”, the latter has been passed from Mary King and Andrew Nicholson with a reputation for being a tricky ride.

I remember interviewing Oliver for an article some years ago. He was still renting a yard and having to sell anything that was any good and ride all sorts, just to make ends meet. Whilst he may be riding a better string of horses, his attitude to the sport has remained unchanged. What seems to motivate Oliver is an insatiable hunger to win but he still relishes riding talented but often challenging horses. With such success behind him, a string of good horses and a beautiful farm in Shropshire he could be forgiven for resting on his laurels but he has lost none of the grit and determination over the years.

Oliver won Burghley and Badminton back in 2009 and can now add the ERM Series to his list of achievements. Yet two goals remain on the agenda- “I need to get to an Olympics” he says firmly, “and I hope to God that happens soon.”

Then there’s the Rolex Grand Slam, which was won for only the second time by German’s Michael Jung this year. Eventing’s most lucrative prize is awarded to the rider who can achieve the near impossible feat of winning Badminton, Burghley and Lexington consecutively. Oliver was on course in 2010 after winning Badminton and Burghley the previous year. Yet in the cruel nature of the sport, a death-defying fall at Lexington put paid to his chances. It was a fall so dramatic that the photos made the front pages of national newspapers.

“A chance at the Grand Slam and the Olympics are the long-term goals but it all comes down to life in the end.” He says. “For me, this is a business and I need to keep doing what I am doing to survive in the sport. That means I need to sell horses, sometimes good ones.”

As well as selling good horses to keep the wheels turning, Oliver is always on the lookout for new blood and finding the good ones is never easy. “That being said, we are in a really good place in the market right now and if you’ve got a good one it can be worth a fortune” he explains. “There sport is growing in popularity- there are lots of new nations competing and more money coming into, it all helps. I was really encouraged by the prices paid at the recent Go for Gold Sale”, which took place last month in Ireland offered a collection of Irish sport horses selected especially for eventing and ranging from three year olds to established eventers, including Euro Prince who represented Ireland in Rio 2016. Record prices were paid, including €160,000 given for a talented six year old, Cornascriebe Glenpatrick who was bought for Millie Dumas.

Oliver argues that such prices area a real step forward for the industry. “It costs a lot of money to produce horses for eventing, people forget that. Good horses should be making these prices for riders to get a return. It’s also great to see owners paying these prices for their riders, it shows a lot of commitment to the sport, which is what we need to win medals.”

Oliver has been impressed by the service provided by Horse Scout. “It’s an interesting concept for the equestrian community and definitely something our industry needs. Anything to help connect the equestrian industry is a welcome addition. Particularly for professional riders but also breeders and trainers who don’t have time to spend on social media all day. For up and coming young riders, it is a good way of getting their profile out there.”

“The site looks impressive and most importantly, it is easy to use- important for me as I’m computer illiterate! I can ride a difficult horse but I can hardly work out an ipad!” he laughs.

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William Funnell, The Billy Stud and Horse Scout

December 19, 2016

Horse Scout are thrilled to announce ‘Billy Congo’ as the most connected Stallion of 2016!

“Horse Scout do a good job of promoting The Billy Stud, and allow people all over the world to know about us”. – William Funnell

Billy Congo is by the AES & Irish Horse Board Approved stallion Vechta, who is by the famous world class sire Voltaire. Vechta’s extended pedigree carries 3 crosses to influential TB stallions Lucky Boy, Cottage Son and Furioso and top level performance sports horses. These performers and progeny include the great For Pleasure, Heisman, Faust Z and Maximillian Voltucky, Champion young stallion at the SHB (GB) stallion grading.

Horse Scout Team are thrilled to see organic connections building on his profile, showing how well he stamps his stock as a fabulous jumping sire. Fellow jump riders endorse Billy Congo, including Steven Franks, with multiple successes with Billy Ginger, one of many Billy Congo offspring !

Horse Scout are currently advertising three horses for sale by the illustrious Billy Congo- a BE 100 eventer (Billy Opaque) and a BE Novice eventer (Billy Chicago), both ready to progress to the next level, and a 6 year old showjumper in Ireland.

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Eventing Horse Breeds Horses For Sale Stallions Stallions At Stud

Jaguar Mail Young Event Mare for Sale

November 7, 2016

This Very Talented Mare with the BEST breeding is offered to the market at £20,000

Produced by Levi Hunt this top class competition prospect is certainly bred for the job.

Talented Event Mare shows British Young Event Horse Breeding at its most influential.

Advertised For Sale on Horse Scout. Born in 2012 this talented mare emphasises the need for good breeding. Her sire is Jaguar Mail, a versatile Selle Français Sports Horse by Hand In Glove, a Thoroughbred, who followed a successful racing career with an equally successful career as a Dressage Horse competing at Grand Prix level. His SireHand In Glove’s own sire Best Turn also produced other very successful competition horses for both Dressage and Show Jumping. Jaguar Mail’s dam, Elvira Mail, also bred World Class horses for racing and the competition arena.

Irish Draft Stallion at Stud: Cruising

This young event mare is a prime example of Sports Horse Breeding at its best and with this top stallion as her sire her dam line brings the best of Irish Breeding too. Advertised on Horse Scouts Horses for Sale pages the mares dam is described as having ‘Cruising’ breeding. Cruising was a Grand Prix Irish Draft Stallion who died in 2014. He had a successful show jumping career gaining him top rankings with the WBFSH and a breeding line, through his dam, to Clover Hill. Cruising was himself sire to some stunningly successful horses such as Cruise Missile (Grand Prix) Cruise Line (Grand Prix) and the list goes on. A secure and reliable dam line supporting this young events mares onward career.

About the British Young Event Horse mare and her career to date; as outlined on her for sale profile on Horse Scout

Her producers – Levi Hunt Equine Training – say she has a wonderful temperament, and firmly believe she has the talent and scope for a future career eventing. This 16.2hh bay mare scored 87 out of 100 at this years Gatcombe BYEH 4 year old class giving her joint 1st in her Show Jumping, Dressage and Conformation placings.

This young event mare for sale, Binky (as she is known), is a serious horse for the future and has proved to be very trainable, offering Levi Hunt (see here), and his staff, a mare with a very mature attitude to her work. Well planned and careful producing means she has been introduced to variety in her work and taken out XC schooling and show jumped whilst being mindful of her scope she has not been pushed too hard. This confident laid back mare is open to a 5* vetting. Click through to her Horses for Sale profile on Horse Scout using this link.

Are you looking to breed this quality yourself then Lucinda Fredericks has Britannia’s Mail listed on Horse Scouts Stallions at Stud pages.

Standing at Rosegarth is the stunning stallion Britannia’s Mail also by Jaguar Mail who has proved that there is more to him than his fabulous good looks! His classic and excellent conformation are shown off to perfection by his beautiful movement and exceptional jumping technique. This quiet, confident stallion has a lot to offer his offspring in terms of the top sports horse breeding along with a temperament to ensure picture perfect progeny are grounded and trainable. It is believed that Britannia’s Mail is the youngest stallion at stud competing at Advanced Eventing in the UK.

Find out more here : Link to Britania’s Mail Stallion at Stud Profile on Horse Scout

britannias-mail-the-event-stallion-at-stud-profiled-on-horse-scout — Britannia’s Mail Stallion At Stud On Horse Scout also by Jaguars Mail

irish-sports-horse-stallion-cruising-from-image-independant-ie-article — Cruising – The Irish draft Stallion named as the Dam Line for this lovely young event mare advertised on Horse Scout for Sale

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Wish Upon A Star British Sports Horse Stallion

October 15, 2016

Advanced Event Horse: Stallion at Stud, British Sports Horse, WISH UPON A STAR has four progeny currently advertised for sale on Horse Scout.

Wish Upon A Star is a UK based eventing stallion with the right attitude and looks to go with it. Taking everything in his stride this handsome Stallion has copes with a seasons Eventing and standing at stud he has now gained 258 British Eventing points. His offspring, advertised here on Horse scout, surely are testament to the strength of his stamp.

Check out his very detailed biography on our Horse Scout Stallions at Stud by using our link here.

Professional Producer Wayne Garrick has a Chestnut Wish Upon A Star mare for sale

Produced by with Wayne Garrick, international 3* Event rider Tack Farm this very smart young mare has a very trainable attitude and a will go attitude. Wayne is sure she is a sound competition prospect. Standing at 16hh this chestnut mare by Wish Upon A star would make into the perfect all rounder with three correct paces, a good jump and presence on the flat this British Warmblood has Donnersong on her dam side.

Follow this link to our Horse Sales pages and look at her profile page.

Four Year Old By Wish Upon A star

Closer to Wish Upon A Stars home stamping ground is this 2012 youngster in Crediton; an eye catching four year old x Plume of Feathers v. Ali Royal. Looking for an eventing career she was schooled by Matthew Hall last year and is showing great promise over show jumps. Having been turned away her owner has now begun her training again and says she is really enjoying her work. This well made youngster has good paces and looks ready to go places.

Use this link to our Horses for Sale pages and read more about this young horse on her profile page on Horse Scout.

Dressage mare by Wish Upon A Star

Well priced Elementary Dressage Mare who has been produced by a teenager she is now competing successfully at British dressage Elementary and working towards Medium. This year she has been campaigned at prestigious shows such as the U25 Championships at both Novice and Elementary, at the Pony Club Dengie Dressage winter finals at Intermediate and in the Open and has qualified for the BYRDS Home International Competition. She has been jumped and does show a lot of promise. This handsome mare is an ideal amateur looking for a horse to collect the ribbons!

Check out this link to find out more about this home produced mare. http://www.horsescout.co.uk/horses-for-sale/profile/2271

Event mare in the Making produced by Joanne Holder from Pencil farm

Finally we have an eye catching sales livery produced by Joanne Holder of Pencil Farm near Cheltenham. A good looking bay mare (2011) (x v.Jumbo) walk oOn Bye II who is expected to campaign as an Eventer and certainly looks the part. Sadly the owner does not have the time to do this mare justice.

You can link to her Horses For Sale advertisement here on Horse Scout.

Professional Producer has a number of horses listed on Horse Scout. Do take a look by linking to her profile page for Pencil Farm here.

http://www.horsescout.co.uk/yards/penhill-farm/profile/217

Four Young Horses with Potential advertised on Horse Scout. All by the Advanced event Stallion Wish Upon A Star

Eventing Horses For Sale Hunter

Looking for a Classy Event Horse or Hunter

October 4, 2016

Looking for a Classy Event Horse or Hunter – every mothers dream

Dependable and talented handsome grey gelding looking for a new home on Horse Scout. Described as a wonderful hunter and scope event horse his owners are convinced he has the escape to progress to 1* eventing. He has been a super rider to date but is very much under used due to school commitments.

This fabulous hunter who has impeccable manners on the field is called Huntingfield Rebel by Glenagyle Rebel – a qualityIrish Draft gelding 8 yrs. an described at 100% to do in every way. “Tommy” has done all pony club and BE 90. His BE record to date proves his competitiveness with plenty of scope to move up the levels . He three very good paces which the judges always find appealing.

Working well at home he is a careful jumper with a scope jump. This is a great opportunity for a teenager or mother daughter combination wanting to progress up the ranks This adaptable horse lives in or out and is the envy of the yard where he is at livery.

This opportunity is listed on Horse Scout and is bound to get snapped up very quickly now the hunting season is upon us. Use this link to access his For Sale profile on Horse Scout

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Ramiro B No2 World Ranking Stallion 2015

September 29, 2016

Ramiro B , the number two stallion on the World Rankings for sires of event horses in 2015, stands at the Harthill Stud in Cheshire. He is listed as the number one sire on the BE rankings (2015) for 4-8 yr old horses, with a good number of offspring coming through the ranks to keep him at the top of the WBFSH list.

His linage lists some of the best Belgian, Warmblood and Holstein jumping lines. Irish rider Edward Doyle produced this lovely stallion, his successes including winning the Indoor Spring Championships in Ireland as a 4 yr old; the Dublin 4yr old final; the Cavan 5yr old final (99), and winner of a 6/7 yr old class at Cavan in 2001. He has continued successfully in his competitive career and now stands at stud where he is proving a productive and effective stallion.

His profile and contact details can be found on Horse Scout in the Stallions at Stud Listings by visiting this link

Horse Scout has several Ramiro B Connections, including Horses For Sale.

Irish Sports mare Violetta is ready to back, this 2013 Irish Sports Horse chestnut mare stands 16.00hh and is already looking very well made, standing well on her four legs. With Ramiro B as her sire and with Carnival Night on her Dams side she has exceptional jumping lines. With a view to a show jumping or eventing career in front of her she is 60% TB lending agility and speed to her good looks she is sure to do well.

You can find her full profile information on Horse Scout by following this link

Ramiro B has also sired a super young event horse who is for sale from Whinney Hill. Her producer, international rider James Adams, thinks she has the ability to really progress on the event circuit as she shows genuine ability and technique. At 15.2hh she is a good height for a rider coming off ponies or an adult looking for a smaller ride but who still has all the scope.

Jamiro has a profile page on Horse Scout and details about her for sale particulars can be found by following this link.

James Adams is a successful Event Rider and producer who holds clinics in the Stockton area also takes horses for breaking, and training livery.

His profile page gives information on horses he is producing and you can follow this link to find out more.

Cooley Master (v. Ramiro B) is campaigned by Oliver Townsend who describes this horse as super talented. Find out more about Ollie Townsend’s competition horses on Horses Scout and keep in touch by following his progress.

Another Ramiro son will be for sale on weaning. he looks fantastic. you can contact his owner Linda to find out more by following this link to his Members Horses Profile page on Horse Scout

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Grafenstolz – quality progeny for sale

September 29, 2016

Grafenstolz – Top Quality stallion at stud

Grafenstolz at listed on Select Stallions Profile has a biography as long as your arm. Standing for a very reasonable €900.00 he represents excellent value. He is certainly a very popular stallion with Horse Scout s profiled professional producers. He has five offspring listed on the Horse Scout for sale pages.

About the stallion at stud Grafenstolz

Awarded premium status by the Trakehner Verband. In 2000, as a two year old campaigning in both show jumping, eventing and dressage arena Grafenstolz become the first horse ever to qualify for the finals of the stallion testing in jumping, eventing and dressage all in the same year as a 6 year old. Proving his breeding versatility. He later, in the same year proved himself again by winning the World Championships for young event horses in france and then as a seven year old wining his first advanced event. He went on to win bronze at eight in the Gernam championships and was placed twice at international 3* competitions also winning a 2*. Being awarded his verband status in 2006. He continued to event successfully but also made ripples in the show jumping arena with his fantastic puissance attempt clearing 2 meters (just under 7 feet). As if this was not enough he then took to the Dressage circuit achieving 69% and winning his first Grand Prix!

You can link to the Grafenstolz Stallion at Stud profile page here.

HIs first UK crop took top Elite scores including an all time record in 2010, with an average of High First Premium he has to be anyones choice for top class competition genetics. Of ten finalists that year five young horses where by Grafenstolz, he followed this the next year again breaking the record for Elite scores.

Grafenstolz stamps his progeny with superb good looks, athleticism and the best movement – indeed indeed Select Stallions endorse his stock as “picture perfect copies of their father”

Connections to Grafenstolz on Horse Scouts Horses for Sale listings and in our professionals profiled pages.

In Yorkshire there is On N Over, who has bred her own foal. Described as working well on the flat and showing an excellent technique over a fence, Jolyse Bell-Syer, her producer in North Yorkshire says her grid work, is true and she happily tackles courses and even more tricky questions such as skinnies and corners. Described as having an excellent attitude to her work and a lovely horse to handle and work with she is marketed at £10,000.

You can visit her profile and contact Jolsye from her profile page on Horses for Sale on Horse Scout by using this link.

Produced by Jolyse Bell-Syer rrofessional event rider and producer based in N. Yorks

Another attractive Grafenholz youngster also born in 2013 is the British Sports Horse Stx Treacle Toffee. As can be seen from his profile picture he is compact and powerful, Vicky Laing his producer describes him as kind natured and good to do and a comfortable ride with good easy paces. A perfect prospect for British Young Event Horse with an eye to an eventing career.

Visit Stx treacle Toffee’s Horses for Sale on Horse scout Profile by using this link

The professional producer Vicky Laing is based in rutland visit her profile and see her other horses for sale on Horse Scout

A younger 16.2hh 3 year old by Grafenholz, Faerie Mikado is also listed on Horse Scouts Horses for Sale pages, she is well handled and described as bred to event with a dam by Mayhill and is for sale through Trisha Rickards who also has a Royaldik 3 year old for sale too listed on Horse Scout.

These are all lovely horses for sale but Grafenstolz offspring are also proudly listed by their campaigners and Charlotte Agnew based on Gloucestershire also has a very good-looking Grafenholz gelding who is now 7. Use this link to find out more about this lovely horse.

Grafestolz Gelding for sale on Horse Scout

Quality Homebred Grafenstolz mare for Sale on Horse Scout

Super 3 year old by Grafenstolz also for sale on Horse Scout

Grafenstolz is also listed at stud with The Stallion Company here

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Talking to Ibby Macpherson

September 20, 2016

Horse Scout are Talking to Ibby Macpherson, International Event Rider, Northamptonshire

If you haven’t heard of Ibby Macpherson, it’s only a matter of time… A talented event rider who recently finished 5th at Branham CCI***, she tells Horse Scout why William Fox Pitt gave her a top horse, why she spent her inheritance money on a hydrotherapy spa and why she’s launched a new innovative event horse syndicate opportunity.

How did you learn to ride?

I think it was on a sheep! My parents owned a pedigree black sheep farm in Scotland.

Have you worked for anyone famous?

After competing in the Junior Europeans in 1999 and 2000, a few years later I became stable jockey for William Fox Pitt and his team. William, Alice and Granny Potts (William’s long-time head girl) are fantastic to work for, and they are still great friends today. I was lucky enough to school and jump all of the horses when William wasn’t at home and competed some of his young horses.

And William Fox Pitt gave you a horse?

Yes, I am incredibly lucky to have been given Igor De Cluis who was 8^th at Le Lion D’Angers as a seven-year-old with William. I could never have afforded such a top class horse but he didn’t stand up to the pressure — soundness wise — at that level with William. I am eternally grateful to Judy and Jeremy Skinner and Margie and David Hall who owned him and gave me the opportunity. I had to be really fussy where I ran him, and made sure that he had hydrotherapy once or twice a day to keep him on the road, but he took me around a few three star events including Blenheim and Boekelo.

So tell us about your top horses now.

I don’t have many horses at the moment but the ones I do have are competitive at their relevant levels.

Ballingowan Diamond (Monty) is a 12-year-old, 16.2hh chestnut gelding (Welcome Diamond out of Phardante mare) with 329 BE points. Monte came fifth at the CCI*** Bramham this year; fourth in the CIC*** at Chatsworth 2016; and third at Hartpury CIC*** in 2015. I’m aiming him at either Burghley or Blenheim this autumn and hopefully Badminton in spring 2017.

Ballingowan Echo is another 12-year-old who is equally as talented but frustratingly we have had a few silly blips and his personality is very different… a bit more complex…. He has been quite competitive and won a few OIs. I’d like to take him around a CIC three star at the end of this year.

Evantos K is a 16.3hh seven-year-old gelding that I’ve had since he was four having bought him from Claire Robertson at Retreat Farm Stud. He has got it all… He’s a fantastic mover and a really scopey jumper. He’s Dutch with around 48% thoroughbred in him, so I think he has enough blood… I’m excited about him, but he is big and weak and is going to take time to mature and strengthen up. He has won four novices and was second in the CIC* at Rockingham. He was really good in his first intermediate at Aston but he is going to have a couple of months’ training at home aiming for hopefully Osberton seven-year-old CIC**.

Deoch an Doris. Doris is a very special to me! He is 13-year-old 16.1hh black gelding with a very big sense of humour. He’ll be with me for life — he was given to me by Jock Mcfarlane whose wife Mary trained me for a long time when I lived in Scotland. Doris was her dressage horse and after a long battle with cancer Mary sadly died. He is very naughty sometimes in the dressage arena adding some freestyle moves here and there but he is an incredibly powerful jumper with a fabulous technique. He’s 13 now but it’s taken his body time to adjust from being ridden on a surface to galloping and jumping on grass. He is a much admired ‘pocket rocket’ and I there is a lot to come!

Fread Needle is a 16.3hh five-year old gelding. He is out of Golden Needle by Bollin Terry, bred by my sister Rose and has done some BE100s this year, coming third at one. I don’t like doing lots with four and five-year-olds… I believe that quite a few horses don’t reach their full potential because they are pushed too young and their brains and/or bodies can’t cope with it. I’d rather they were slower starters and did more later on in life.

So do you compete any horses that you don’t own?

Yes, Dungeon Hill is a 16.3hh nine-year old gelding that I ride for Fee Wilson, in Dorset. I have a couple of spaces for some more horses to ride, but want to fill them with the right ones!!

What’s the aim of your new scheme, the Picnic Partnership?

I’m lucky because I own some lovely horses, but I cannot afford to keep and compete them all without some support. This new initiative not only helps me keep competing my horses, but it also enables people to get involved in the sport without committing to vast amounts of money and unexpected expenses. The initiative — which costs £400pp a month — enables members to have an interest in four horses from BE100 to four star (CCI****). They can come and watch training sessions and support us at competitions. I have a catering company which supplies a picnic for every event members go to — with wine! It’s a great opportunity because with four horses at various levels, there’s always something going on and it’s a fantastic chance to visit some fabulous venues throughout Britain.

Who do you train with?

Nigel Taylor and Fred Bergendorff (jumping); Andrew Fletcher and Hillary Westropp (flat); John Pitt helps as a performance manager; and Danielle Olding is a sports psychologist/life coach whom I find really helpful. I also do lots of Pilates with Tina Sheridon — it’s really helped to strengthen my riding over the last year making me more aware of my posture.

How do you keep your horses sound and happy?

In terms of soundness, they all go in the hydrotherapy spa regularly as I have one here on site (I run an equine hydrotherapy spa business — see next week’s blog) and they’re also taken to a nearby water treadmill once a week which I think is very beneficial for their core strength and keeping them supple without putting pressure on their limbs. I’m also a firm believer in the Activo-Med range, particularly the pulse electromagnet massage therapy rug. My horses all live out at night from mid-March until the beginning of November (weather dependent). I think this is a good way to keep them happy in their heads and the constant movement maintains the suppleness in their bodies. I think it also helps to alleviate problems like gastric ulcers.