The third Horse & Hound Awards came to a climax last night with the presentation of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award to Captain Mark Phillips.

“Our Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award winner this year is a former winner of Badminton and Burghley, and a two-time Olympic medallist. Today he is one of the greatest cross-country course-designers in the world and a renowned coach,” said H&H magazine editor Pippa Roome as she presented the award to Mark at the ceremony at Cheltenham racecourse.

Mark said he was “overwhelmed” to receive the Award, after the announcement of his name brought many people in the room to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation.

Asked to give his favourite moment from his different careers, Mark said: “That’s a difficult question!

“All the way from the Pony Club to winning Badminton to the first time you have a flag under your saddle, to Olympic medals, taking gold with a team at the World Championships [as coach to the USA in 2002] — there have been so many.”

Captain Mark Phillips, winner of the 2018 Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award. Picture by Peter Nixon

Mark is the third recipient of the award, which has also gone to Nick Skelton — winner of the award in 2016 after his individual gold at the Rio Olympics — and the 11th Duke of Beaufort, whose widow Miranda, Duchess of Beaufort, accepted the award on his behalf last year.

In a video played at the ceremony last night night, Burghley director Liz Inman, course-builder and designer David Evans and riders Andrew Nicholson, Andrew Hoy and Phillip Dutton paid tribute to Mark’s contribution to the horseworld and his friendship.

“He is truly a great man and we are fortunate to have him in our lives,” said Phillip, who was a frequent member of the US eventing squad during the 20-year period when Mark was the team coach.

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Mark won Badminton four times (1971 and 1972 on Great Ovation, 1974 on Columbus and 1981 on Lincoln) and Burghley in 1973 on Maid Marion. He was a member of the British team which won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics, riding Standing Ovation and of the silver medal-winning team at Seoul in 1988 with Cartier.

He was also a European team gold medallist at Burghley in 1971 on Great Ovation. At World Championships, Mark collected team gold in 1970 in Punchestown riding Chicago and team silver in 1974 at Burghley riding Columbus.

As a course-designer, Mark is particularly associated with Burghley, where he has designed the track 25 times. His other prestigious course-design jobs include the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, an event where he also holds the role of chairman, and Barbury. He designed the track for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, earlier this year.

Mark is also a renowned coach and having spent 25 years as a national team coach, he continues to train riders across the levels.

Mark is H&H’s longest-standing magazine columnist, contributing his outspoken and forthright views frequently during the eventing season.

Read more about the third H&H Awards in next week’s magazine, out Thursday 15 November.

Piaf De B’Neville, the horse responsible for claiming France an individual silver and team gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was retired in an official ceremony at Les étoiles de Pau CCI4* on Sunday afternoon (28 October).

Known as ‘Ben’ at home, the now 15-year-old, helped launch the international career of Astier Nicolas.

“He did nearly everything for my career and today is emotional,” said Astier. “But I’m also happy because he has retired as a sound and successful horse.”

From the 20 international starts Ben had during his career, he never faulted across country and was in the top 10 13 times.

“I hope I have more horses like him in the future,” admitted Astier. “My biggest achievement with him was winning the CCI4* at Pau in 2015. That was special.”

With Astier Ben also won the CCI3* under-25 in 2012, was ninth at Badminton in 2013, eighth in Aachen in 2014 and he also won the CIC3* at Chatsworth in 2016. He also represented France at the European championships in Malmö in 2013, where they contributed to a team bronze.

His final event was at Badminton in 2017, where he finished 15th with a clear round across country.

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During the ceremony, Ben, who was owned by a syndicate, was gifted to his former groom, Julie Le Marinel.

“I was his groom at his first Badminton and I’m so happy he can come and live with me near where he was born in Cherbourg,” said an emotional Julie. “He loves cows, so he will live out with my milkers and act as my Jeep around the farm.”

Ben’s retirement was announced in May earlier this year, but the ceremony saw him retired in the traditional manner, where he was ridden into the main arena in front of the crowds and then untacked. Julie then led him around on a lap of honour.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Sophie Wells added to Britain’s gold rush with victory in the grade V individual championship at the World Equestrian Games, in Tryon.

The multi-medalled para rider piloted Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction (below) to gold with 75.43%, in a test filled with harmony and power. It didn’t get off to an ideal start however, when Sophie and “Jorge” cantered out of their first halt, instead of trotting.

“I think he was a little bit nervous and it would have been helpful not to have a blip, though it does bring you back down to earth. But as we went along it got better and better,” said Sophie, who took gold with the 11-year-old Fidertanz gelding at the Gothenberg Europeans in 2017, but has not had an individual world title since 2010.

“This feels amazing, I’m so chuffed,” said Sophie. “I missed out on gold in Normandy in 2014, and it feels like a long time to get a chance to try again. I’m just so proud of Jorge — it’s been a long journey and this means such a lot. He came out today and he wanted to work and wanted to do it. But I think there’s even more in the tank for later in the week.”

Sophie’s long-time grade V rival, Frank Hosmar of the Netherlands, scored 73.17% to claim the silver medal with Alphaville NOP, while Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp took bronze on Look At Me Now in her first season of para dressage.

There was disappointment for Britain’s Lee Pearson, who retired his home-bred mare Styletta in the grade II individual earlier in the day, after the nine-year-old became unsettled.

“She seems to be struggling a bit with the humidity here. She’s only nine years old; she’s a spectacularly powerful horse and each day she’s been here she’s been feeling like she’s struggling a bit with the weather,” said Lee.

“I didn’t want to retire; I’m passionate about doing my best in the arena for my country but I felt that it was the right thing to do.”

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Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup took her first world title in the grade II, riding the Gribaldi gelding Horsebo Smarties. It proved a tight tussle between Stinna and Austria’s Pepo Puch, with a new championship ride, Sailor’s Boy. But Stinna’s 72.74% was just enough to clinch the title over Pepo, with the Netherlands’ Nicole De Dulk and Wallace NOP collecting bronze.

The grade IV championship went to the Netherlands, Sanne Voets leading from first draw with  Demantur NOP, the talented Vivaldi gelding on whom she took freestyle gold in Rio and the European championship title in Gothenberg last year.

Rodolpho Riskalla landed silver for Brazil — his first championship medal — aboard another stunning chestnut, the Don Frederico stallion Don Henrico, while Denmark’s Susanne Jensby Sunesen won bronze with CSK’s Que Faire.

The individual para championships continue tomorrow, with Britain’s Natasha Baker and Erin Orford both in action in the grade III division. Natasha will ride Mount St John Diva Dannebrog at 9.30am (2.30pm UK time), while Erin will compete with Dior at 12.18pm (5.18pm UK time).

Four years ago, Germany’s Isabell Werth started her World Equestrian Games campaign on the mare she deems her best horse ever, Bella Rose. Aged just 10, the elegant Belissimo M mare posted a 81.53% grand prix to finish second to Valegro in Normandy 2014, but then disaster struck and the mare was withdrawn from the rest of the Games due to an injury.

Fast forward four years, and this entrancing chestnut, owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze, is finally back on the scene, despite many doubting whether she would ever be seen in an arena again. Isabell and Bella have swept the board during their competitive comeback this summer, and, with Isabell having made clear Bella was her personal choice ride for the 2018 WEG, they now prepare to start their Games campaign in Tryon, North Carolina, tomorrow.

“Choosing Bella Rose [as my preferred ride] was not a decision against my other horses, Emilio and [triple European gold medallist] Weihegold,” says Isabell. “It’s just that Bella Rose is my dream horse — she is just outstanding — and to bring her back to a championship has been my dream for the past four years.

“We have taken it slowly, and done things step by step during her recovery — she is full of temperament so its been hard to keep her calm during those years.

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Having sailed through the trot-up earlier this morning (picture, above), Bella Rose will not only help Germany attempt to defend their team gold, but is also one of the strongest contenders for the individual gold medals.

“She just has everything: charisma, power, elegance, lightness — she combines all the best things of all my other horses,” continues Isabell, who first saw the mare at her breeder’s as a three-year-old and admits to being smitten with her at first sight.

“The atmosphere here won’t be a problem for her, but I will have to calm her down and keep her concentrating,” the world number one says, also adding that Bella is going better now than when she was last on the world stage four years ago. “We’re all just getting older and more experienced.”

Three horses have been found wounded and “traumatised” after a break-in at a Riding for the Disabled Association centre.

Volunteer Joe Coulman made the discovery when he arrived at the Epsom centre on Wednesday morning (15 August).

Epsom RDA centre chairman Stella Milne told H&H the incident happened between 10pm on Tuesday (14 August) and 7.30am on Wednesday.

“We keep two of our ponies, Marigold and Buffy, in the indoor school at night because they are susceptible to laminitis. Joe arrived and found Buffy wasn’t in the school,” she said.

“In the school, water buckets and poles were everywhere. The first aid kit had been strewn all over the place and electric fence posts had been broken and left lying around.”

The 24-year-old ponies, Marigold and Buffy, were both found with injuries and the vet and police were called.

“Marigold had seven puncture wounds on her body and Buffy had two. It also appears that Marigold has wounds on her legs, which we think could have been caused by a dog and we are assuming the puncture wounds could have been made with the electric fence poles.

“Marigold’s wounds are deep but not life-threatening, but she has one at the top of her jaw adjacent to her eye, which we are worried about. There could be a fracture there and the vet is coming back again tomorrow to X-ray.

“The wound on Buffy’s neck has luckily missed the bone but the puncture wound on her near fore is quite deep and was still hot and puffy this morning so the vet will look at her again tomorrow.”

A 19-year-old gelding was found in a different field with a similar injury.

“We then found Samuel, who had a puncture wound on his shoulder,” Stella said. “Luckily it hadn’t gone down to the bone. There were wheelbarrows strewn around the field but the other two horses in that field were uninjured.

“Marigold had hand prints in blood on her body; it was just horrible. You just can’t fathom how people could do that, it’s shocking.

“These ponies aren’t young and they do a great job for us, Marigold has been a national RDA champion at Hartpury three times with several of our riders, she’s been absolutely brilliant. Buffy is a very steady pony – she is always eager to do her job and look after her rider.  It’s just so sad.”

“Marigold is finding it difficult to eat soaked hay with her painful jaw but apart from that she’s a feisty little lady and perking up more, on the other hand Buffy seems to be the most traumatised.”

Volunteers at the centre spent Wednesday evening on site.

“A group of volunteers did a rota last night and offered to stay in the coffee room so we had somebody there all evening,” Stella said. “Over the coming days we are looking to have a security firm on site with a dog and in the future we will be looking at CCTV and any other security measures that can be improved on,”

Stella said the veterinary bills and added security costs will have an “impact” on the centre.

“We’ve had tremendous support from people on social media and the local Epsom community — we want to thank everybody,” she added. “People are really rallying round, they have been coming into the yard with carrots and chocolates and making donations. There is outrage that people could do this to these innocent animals.”

A spokesman for Surrey Police said investigations are ongoing.

The Environment Agency (EA) is cracking down on “toxic” plastic waste being used in equestrian arena surfaces.

The EA is warning riders of the dangers they could be putting themselves, their horses and the environment in by using inappropriate materials.

People found with the substance on their land could face an expensive bill for its removal and disposal and could even be liable for prosecution.

“Plastic granulate, sold as an alternative surface for equestrian centres, could place horses and riders at risk, present a pollution hazard and lead to owners falling foul of the law,” said a statement from the EA.

“Plastic granulate is a waste material derived from the recycling of cable sheathing and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

“It’s being marketed by some waste producers and brokers as a base material for horse maneges and track surfaces. However, there is no legal route available for its use for this purpose except in accordance with an environmental permit.”

This permit is only applicable for licensed waste disposal facilities and could not be applied to allow the use of this material in equestrian arenas.

The statement added the plastics present can contain persistent organic pollutants, phthalates and lead stearate.

“Weathering can cause leaching of these toxic substances into the wider environment, potentially causing contamination to land and groundwater,” said the statement.

“Some plastic granulate may even be cross-contaminated with non-plastic elements such as metal fragments and glass, making surfaces where it’s used potentially harmful for horses and riders.”

Certain waste materials, such as granulated rubber and wood chip, can be used in quantities up to 1,000 tonnes for horse menages under a U8 waste exemption registration. But no such exemption is available for granulated plastic to be used as equestrian arena surfaces.

British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) director Claire Williams told H&H the organisation “welcomes this crackdown on the use of potentially hazardous material”.

“Reliable companies – including BETA members — always check the provenance of their materials and would never use this in their products,” she said.

“Those seeking to produce cheap alternative surfacing must be made aware of the implications if they do not understand them, and those that are seeking to make a fast buck and have no consideration for the harm they might cause should be prevented from doing so.”

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The EA is urging anyone who is approached and offered this material, but who doesn’t have an appropriate environmental permit, to contact the agency on 03708 506 506 or enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. This is because producers and brokers of plastic granulate have a legal duty of care to ensure it is disposed of at a permitted facility.

“We’re determined to eliminate avoidable waste and crack down on plastics as part of the government’s 25-year environmental plan,” said EA officer Greg Deakin.

“We’re therefore urging those with equestrian facilities to carefully consider the use of this material.

“It might be offered free of charge or for a small delivery fee, but it is an offence under the environmental permitting regulations to use this waste without appropriate environmental controls.

“If you’re found to have plastic granulate waste deposited on your land without the appropriate environmental permit awarded by the Environment Agency, you could be fined and be liable for the cost of its disposal.”

Deposits of this waste can be reported, anonymously, on the EA’s 24-hour national incident hotline, on 0800 80 70 60.

Anyone wishing to use materials such as granulated rubber or wood chip as a surface can register an exemption for free www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u8-using-waste-for-a-specified-purpose

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

A film showing what goes on behind the scenes of at the yard of a racehorse trainer to The Queen has been released ahead of Royal Ascot (19-22 June).

The video, produced as part of the racing industry’s Horse Comes First campaign, shows the daily life of horses in training with William Haggas at Somerville Lodge and the people who care for them.

“Owners and trainers want to win, of course we do, but it’s not possible to win without fit, healthy and well looked-after horses,” said the Derby-winning trainer.

“I am incredibly proud of our operation and the team here at Somerville Lodge, equine welfare is our number one priority and so I was delighted to allow the cameras in and show what we do here.”

Annie Martin, a groom at Somerville Lodge, said the horses are treated like “royalty”.

“I’d heard rumours about the way horses are treated before I entered the industry, but it’s simply not true,” she said.

“To run well and run safely, horses are treated like kings and queens. They really are given the very best care we can possibly give them.”

There are currently 14,000 horses in training in Britain, cared for by more than 6,000 people.

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David Sykes, director of equine health and welfare at the British Horseracing Authority, added that racechorses’ training and lifestyle involves the “best possible care”.

“Around the country, thousands of people are thinking about their preparations for Royal Ascot,” said Mr Sykes.

“We wanted to create a film that shows the diligence and meticulousness of the racing industry and how they care for their horses, not just for the big festivals, but all year round.

“No expense is spared on the highest quality feed, facilities and bedding to ensure they are happy and healthy athletes, but this isn’t something that the average racegoer is always aware of.”

The Horse Comes First campaign is an industry-wide initiative, supported by the British Horseracing Authority, the Racecourse Association, the Racehorse Owners Association, the Professional Jockeys Association, the National Trainers Federation, the Jockey Club, the National Association of Stable Staff, Retraining of Racehorses and Arena Racing Company.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

A rider who has faced serious mental health issues has opened up about the incredible way horses have helped her reclaim her life to help encourage others going through hard times not to give up.

Melissa Pinfield-Wells was bullied through school and diagnosed with being on the autistic spectrum aged 13.

She started self-harming as a teenager, at the age of 18 was admitted to a psychiatric unit after trying to take her own life, since which time she has spent years in and out of psychiatric wards.

Melissa said her life is now “hugely different” and horses have given her the confidence to do go out and do things.

“I didn’t think I would ever be able to find any joy out of life because I just felt so guilty that I felt the way I did and couldn’t see how anything could ever change,” she said.

“Working with horses helped give me a purpose and find my place in the world.”

Melissa is hoping her story will inspire others who are going through tough times to keep going.

“I was training as a biomedical scientist, doing a degree I loved, but I couldn’t cope with being employed,”she told H&H.

“I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to work and I would be off sick on benefits for the rest of my life.”

Having ridden since she was a child, Melissa said the equestrian world was the first place she felt she “fitted in and made friends”.

“While I was off sick I spent a lot of time with the horses — I’m pretty good with horses, not so much with people, but I can understand and communicate with them,” she explained.

Melissa started offering her services in riding and teaching as a hobby and her business has now grown over the past four years to become an established full-livery yard. She also does freelance teaching and riding alongside competing her own horses in affiliated dressage and is training in animal physiotherapy.

“I didn’t want to be off sick, I didn’t cope very well when I was — having the yard and having the horses keeps me going and competing my own horses gives me something to aim for and having that aim keeps me focused,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter how crap I feel and how bad everything is, I can always get on a horse and ride — that is something I know I can do.

“The autism has helped me with the horses, if I wasn’t on the spectrum I don’t think I would have the understanding I do — I see horses in a different way and that helps me look at where a problem is starting from. I find horses quite simple compared to people.”

Melissa thanked her family, two GPs and the DPJ Foundation — a charity that helps support people in rural areas with mental health conditions — for helping her to achieve what some had said was not possible.

Since starting working with horses, Melissa has become financially independent, kept her job and has had her first long period of time (about three years) out of hospital.

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She also credits her main horse, “Bernard”, for giving her the drive to carry on, adding that his quirky nature means few people want to handle him, so she knows she has to get up and look after him.

“He is absolutely fantastic, although he is really naughty — he bites and kicks and a lot of people can’t understand why I keep him, but he gave me a bit of a push and has always cheered me up,” she said.

“He is so sensitive to my feelings, if I am having a bit of a tough time he really keeps me on my toes like he is trying to remind me I have to stay strong! Yet if I am really struggling he is the most kind and loving animal, it’s like he knows I just need him to make my life a bit easier and he does. He always knows what he needs to do to put a smile on my face.”

Melissa gave Bernard his show name —Folie A Deux — where two people share the same delusion —as a nod to her troubles and to everything the pair of them have overcome together.

“I want other people to see that just because someone wrote you off doesn’t mean it is true. I can’t be the only person who others have told them ‘you are not going to be able to do it’,” she said.

“Find something you are passionate about and use it to your advantage. I can work with horses despite my issues — it doesn’t matter how bad of a day I’m having, if I have a horse in front of me it becomes a good day.

“If my story helps even one person, that is good enough for me.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

The 15-year-old stallion Don VHP Z NOP, the ride of world number three Harrie Smolders, is one of the world’s leading showjumpers. The hugely imposing 17.1hh liver chestnut, who was produced through his early years in Great Britain, has helped the Dutchman win individual silver at the 2017 European Championships as well as some of the most prestigious grands prix in the world. What makes him so good? We find out from those who know him best.

1. “I’ve never ridden a horse who jumps 1.60m fences so easily and, because he’s so scopey, it doesn’t cost him a lot of energy,” says rider Harrie Smolders.

2. “He showed that big scopey jump right from the word go,” says former owner/producer Shirley Light of the Brendon Stud, whose father Cyril bought “Paris” from Belgium as a two-year-old after seeing him loose jumping.

3. “Travelling in the lorry he just goes to sleep and doesn’t move. But when you open the ramp, he’s ready to go and you can’t get him off the truck quick enough otherwise he tries to get off before you do,” says Don’s groom Alex Tyler-Morris, who has looked after the stallion for the past five years. “There’s never a dull moment with Don around.”

4. “Don’s very trainable at home and a pleasure to ride. He’s very cool headed, too — he’s never impressed by a fence or anything new,” says Harrie, who will be aiming Don VHP Z at this year’s European Championships in Rotterdam.

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5. “He would make you smile every day in the yard with his hilarious sense of humour and I think he’s still as cheeky as he ever was,” says Shirley Light. “Louise [Pavitt, who rode him until he was sold as an eight-year-old] always said if it took three of us to tack him up, she knew she was going to win.”

Don’t miss the full feature in this week’s showjumping special issue of Horse & Hound, out today (Thursday 21 February 2019).

An equine vet is warning horse owners that building banks against the sides of a stable will not necessarily prevent a horse from getting cast.

Dr Kieran O’Brien, a senior vet at Penbode Equine Vets in Tavistock, Devon said although it is traditional to bank the bedding, “the evidence suggests this will not usually have any beneficial effect other than providing some protection if a horse does become cast”.

“They are almost entirely decorative, and may be making things worse,” warned Dr O’Brien.

Other downsides to banking bedding are that fungi will grow in the undisturbed areas.

These can release spores into the stable air, which are breathed by the horse and might cause airway inflammation, pointed out Dr O’Brien.

The experienced vet and H&H contributor posted his bedding article on the practice’s Facebook page, and thousands of people viewed the post.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” said Dr O’Brien.

Some commenters suggested banks were created not to cushion the horse when it gets cast but to encourage the horse to lie in the centre of the stable.

“Video recordings of sleeping horses have shown when they are rising they often make a rolling motion when they stand up. This could explain why they are found cast against the side of the stable in the morning, often in spite of the presence of banks” said Dr O’Brien.

To prevent casting he said the best solution is to fix a wooden batten or rubber anti-cast strip about one metre from the floor around the stable walls.

The horse’s feet will be able to get a grip on the strip, and it can then push itself away from the wall.

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“People will still use banks for cushioning effects but it’s important if you do use them the bedding in the banks is kept fresh so fungi don’t proliferate there,” he said.

The size of the bank is also important.

“The bank won’t stop a horse getting cast unless it is very big and wide, and most are neither,” Dr O’Brien said.

Do you agree, or do you build banks for other reasons? Email hhletters@ti-media.com for a chance to see your views in H&H magazine and win a bottle of Champagne Taittinger (please include your name and address; letters may be edited).