The salute is the judge’s first impression – a square, immobile halt sets the tone for the whole test.A square halt is one of the most underrated movements in dressage – yet it features in virtually every test from intro to the highest levels of dressage, so knowing how to ride one is key. It’s usually the very first thing a judge sees as you turn down the centre line, and a tidy […]

Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus were in the spotlight for all the right reasons at Aachen in 2025.

British grand prix dressage rider and trainer Anna Ross discusses brideless dressage, the stretch debate and two sad farewells

Ten years ago, the trend was clear: short reins won gold medals. Today, we can ride grand prix in a snaffle, we’re trialling a stretch movement at grand prix and the…

Reining Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who won gold in Tokyo and Paris with now retired TSF Dalera BB, is out of contention for the World Championships with her current top ride, Times Kismet. Olympic dressage champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is out of contention for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen (11 to 23 August). On Sunday (28 June), Jessica shared the news that her…

A white pad to match the shape of your saddle is perfect for a dressage test.The best dressage pads have evolved beyond protecting your dressage saddle to include performance features, such as breathability and shock absorption. Given the importance of tack fit and comfort, a high-quality saddle pad is essential to boost your overall appearance while ensuring your horse is as comfortable as…

NuuMed’s most established lines are back in production in Britain – and back on the market – thanks to a deal that secured the brand’s future. H&H reported in March that Racesafe had bought NuuMed and Thermatex, brands owned by manufacturer Vale Bros, which went into administration in 2023. At the time of the sale, […]

2JF53X7 Aachen, Germany. 29th June, 2022. Equestrian sport/jumping: CHIO, Prize of Europe. The show jumper Conor Swail from Ireland on the horse Count Me In jumps over an obstacle. Credit: Uwe Anspach/dpa/Alamy Live NewsIrish showjumper Conor Swail has paid tribute to former top-level mare Flower, stating he has “yet to meet another horse like her”. The Belgian warmblood Bon Ami daughter, who…

Clayton Fredericks is the new five-star cross-country course-designer at Adelaide. Olympic medallist Clayton Fredericks will design his first five-star cross-country course at next year’s Adelaide Equestrian Festival (15-18 April 2027). Clayton was part of the Australian silver medal-winning eventing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and won individual silver and team bronze at the 2006…

Tim Price and Falco, pictured at Maryland 5 Star in 2024. The New Zealand eventing team for the Aachen 2026 World Championships has been confirmed, featuring the four Kiwi riders who won medals at the last worlds. Five-star winners Tim Price and Falco spearheaded the New Zealand team to bronze four years ago, when they claimed an individual medal of the same colour – recording the […]

The beautiful and exotic Akhal-Teke is one of the rarest horse breeds in the world.Do you have a handle on the world’s rare horse breeds? All over the world lie elusive and rare breeds that you should definitely know about, many of which are British native breeds. Organisations such as the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and individual breed societies oversee populations and campaign for the…

Scott BRASH riding Hello Sanctos GBR during the First Competition at WEG in Stadium D'Ornano Caen, Normandy in France between 23 August to 7 September 2014Medal-winning veterans and some new up-and-coming stars feature on the British showjumping shortlist for the Aachen World Championships (11 to 23 August). One combination from the team that won silver at last year’s European Championships –…

Library image. Horse owners and vets are being urged to report equine flu cases as experts believe true figures to be significantly higher than the number of reported outbreaks. The Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) team has “strongly” encouraged vets and owners to provide permission for anonymous reporting in its latest update (25 June). “Every outbreak reported […]

Joe Stockdale with his 1st horse in the training demo at his yard at Dovecote Farm near Northampton in the UK on the 6th October 2025.

In this exclusive article for H &H subscribers, top British showjumper Joe Stockdale demonstrates a simple exercise with poles that he uses to teach his horses the leg aid can mean stay straight, not just go faster

Does your horse have a tendency to drift…

3CNPTX9 Woodstock, Oxfordshire, UK. 21st Sep, 2025. Team Ireland during the prize giving ceremony at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace on September 21, 2025, Woodstock, United Kingdom (Photo by Maxime David - MXIMD Pictures) Credit: MXIMD Pictures/Alamy Live NewsThe Irish eventing squad entries shortlist for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen 2026 has been…

World Cup winner Becky Moody's horse Jagerbomb relaxing in his stable at home.When Becky Moody and Jagerbomb flew home from their FEI Dressage World Cup final win in Fort Worth, Texas, the celebrated gelding looked, by every outward measure, completely fine. He had a week off in the field, a fortnight of gentle hacking, and was – as she told The Horse & Hound Podcast – “bright […]

The first Premier Jumping League (PJL) team has been sold to Jason McCarthy for $50m (£37.7m) in what organisers describe as a “powerful endorsement of the PJL’s vision and the future potential of jumping”. Trader, investor, and competitive racing driver Mr McCarthy said he is a firm believer in the vision of the PJL. H&H […]

Stepping over uneven, raised obstacles asks your horse to lift their core.Groundwork exercises can be highly effective for building your horse’s strength as they can develop core stability, balance and muscle tone without needing to compensate for the added weight and restriction of a rider. All horses have a dominant side – like us being right- or left-handed – and with this exercise you can…

Extended canter is best taught and practised over short, repeatable efforts. Extended canter is all about energy. Dressage judges want to see an increase in stride length and ground cover, not just more speed, with the horse staying straight and connected. The same applies when jumping: you want lift, airtime and adjustability, maintaining your rhythm – not simply a faster canter that’s flat and…

Whether you’ve just bought your first horse or are training at the highest level, every horse owner needs a grooming kit –it’s an essential you can’t be without. For this reason, the best grooming kits for horses are also a great practical gift for a horse owner. Some complete grooming kits also come with a […]

Trevor Breen and Highland President claim a landmark first international grand prix success during week one of the Al Shira'aa Bolesworth International.The Irish always seem to perform on a supercharged level at Bolesworth International, and they underlined it once again when Breen brothers Trevor and Shane locked down a fabulous one-two in the CSI3* Al Shira’aa grand prix, both piloting…

Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, pictured at Burnham Market in 2020. Samantha Lissington’s stable star Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ has been ruled out of contention for the New Zealand eventing squad at the 2026 World Championships (11 to 23 August). The 15-year-old gelding, whom Samantha owns with husband Brayden and Pip McCarroll, recorded a career high when finishing second in the…

Striped poles are really useful for keeping disciplined on accuracy.This groundwork exercise is handy for keeping your horse engaged and stimulated in walk, because of the constant changes of direction combined with negotiating poles. Aims Provide mental and physical stimulation Strengthen core and hindquarters Focus on changes of bend while negotiating poles The setup Setup: Three sets of two…

It might be business as usual for producers, says Katie Jerram-Hunnable, but entry numbers at county shows across the board provide reason for concern.

Top British show horse producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable shares her thoughts on the plight of our county shows and equine flu

While it seems to be business as usual for many of us producers, I feel it’s not the case for others as numbers in…

More than 14,000 transport professionals now have access to training it is hoped will not only keep horses and riders safer but also include them in future plans. Rider and traffic and transport consultant Catherine Chapman has created the continuing professional development (CPD) module on equestrians as road users. She has developed the workshop with […]

John Taylor BS Stipendiary StewardJohn Taylor, the British Showjumping (BS) chief stipendiary steward died on 16 June aged 71, after a long illness. The former City of London Police mounted officer and huge supporter of showjumping was a familiar and favourite figure at showgrounds and events across the country. He was known for his smile, his patience and fairness […]

Rachel Proudley claimed her sixth consecutive major puissance victory in the UK when she shared the spoils with three other riders in the Equiyd puissance at Bolesworth International on Saturday night (27 June). Rachel won all five of her previous titles with her established performer Easy Boy De Laubry Z, but brought forward a new […]

Becky Moody, her groom Kim Masson, and Jagerbomb during the prizegiving at the 2026 World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.On the latest episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, World Cup winner Becky Moody lifts the lid on what it really takes to fly a horse across the Atlantic – from crates and zip lifts to a sleepless night tracking the flight to Texas. Becky’s World Cup win on Jagerbomb was one…

There is more awareness and openness to a different approach to the horse-human relationship, the organiser of a bridleless display event believes. Equine chiropractor Jess Harkness organised the Beyond the Bridle event, an afternoon of displays followed by an evening performance, at the Unicorn Equestrian Centre in Gloucestershire on 13 June. The event was a […]

Reserve champions Cleopatra and Elliee Stunt in 2025 Royal International hack championship We expect to hear that many riders, producers, horses and even stewards have busy schedules at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS), but perhaps we don’t expect that some of the judges do, too. One such judge is Margaret Hopkins, who will officiate in four sections. She will assess the ride element in…

Lengthened or extended trot strides are often seen in a dressage test across the diagonal. The consequence is that many of us practise them by speeding across the longest straight in the arena, inadvertently encouraging our horses to become flat, hollow and rushed. The trot strides don’t so much lengthen as simply speed up. Instead, […]

By Rory Leggett Joy Leggett, the founder of Arundel Riding Centre and a lifelong champion of equestrian sport and accessibility died on 23 May, aged 95. Known to most as Mrs Leggett, Joy leaves a legacy built on determination and an unwavering love of horses. Born without an equestrian background, Joy discovered her passion early. […]