CATEGORIES

A Skelton masterclass

A new training regime brings out the best in John Hales’ champion chaser, Politologue, and Harry Skelton’s Grade One double is the toast of Sandown

‘Propelled into the dirt'

Tessa Waugh branches out from hunting and is reminded that the coloured poles can prove fiendish foes, while it transpires that she may have a canine crowd at Christmas, even if not a human one

The effects of heavy falls

A hefty fall can leave a horse winded, but how do we know if he has suffered internal injury, asks Gil Riley MRCVS

Hats off to Cloth Cap

A winning pair score a 10-length victory and a six-year-old hurdler prevails in a closely matched fight to the finish

Keep on kicking on

Covid precautions are to the fore on a day with this popular, well-organized pack of bloodhounds, but so are big hedges and a great deal of fun

Denver dominates the day

Holly Smith tops a huge field of class competitors to claim pole position, and Sienna Charles takes first ahead of one of the sport’s biggest names

MERCURY

Weighing in at 860kg and holding the rank of major, this “gentle giant” drum horse is a professional on parade with the Household Cavalry

From the horse's mouth

From Trojan horses to currying favour, everyday expressions are laced with references to the part horses played throughout our culture and history. Author Adam Jacot de Boinod traces the origins of some popular idioms

Judgement call

Judging is often seen as the preserve of the middle-aged and pensioners, so where will our future officials come from? Pippa Cuckson finds plenty of hope in the next generation

Drafting a sustainable future

The heavyweight grafters of the equine world were the backbone of industry for centuries, yet are now fighting for survival. Ellie Hughes discovers some working horses bucking the trend with renewed, sustainable purpose

Marketing And Projects Director

Jo Peck on working hard and playing hard, living on adrenaline and chocolate

Don't Forget The ‘Middle Children'

Anna Ross explores the difficult leap from young riders to seniors

O'Brien's Coole win

The winning jockey survives a slip to put him “back in the limelight”, and trainer Colin Tizzard delights in a reversal of fortune with a dual victory

‘A fun, spoiling pack'

The “correspondent’s curse” strikes as November gales hit Cornwall’s exposed moors, but the hunting community and a determined pack make for a memorable day nonetheless

Safe, sound and seen

A highway is not a horse’s natural habitat, and many drivers are unfamiliar with equines, but you can reduce the risk of riding on the roads. Briony Reed finds out how

Mud, mud, inglorious mud

Mud is an inevitable part of winter. Helen Triggs checks out how to minimise the damage

Laura Collett

Laura Collett had been knocking at the door of a huge win ever since her much-garlanded pony years. Polly Bryan finds her still on “cloud nine” after her first-ever five-star success

Brigadier Gerard

Was Frankel definitely the best of all time or did Brigadier Gerard do even more within his era to earn that crown? The jury’s out, says Julian Muscat

Access action

The time to save certain bridleways is ticking down. Lucy Elder looks at ongoing local and national efforts and how you can make a difference

A rubbish refusal

Tessa Waugh’s last meet before lockdown is full of drama before the real action even begins, with a Volvo in a ditch and an urgent call for “strong men” from a flustered hunt secretary

The Burning Question

How significant are hindgut issues? Tim Mair FRCVS discusses the horse’s engine: the large intestine

Juggling Act: Motherhood In Racing Under The Spotlight

A report found challenges faced by working mothers as well as “pockets of good practice” and has come up with a list of recommendations

Never give up

From Hyde Park bomb survivors to a fairytale Grand National winner, Kate Johnson tracks down horses who have made miraculous recoveries

Geoff Billington

The Olympic showjumper on keeping checklists, the life-changing It’s Otto, the joys of a personalized horsebox and finding a rich wife…

Top dog

From bulldogs going schooling to whippets chasing the racehorses up the gallops, there is no end of tricks a yard dog can get up to. Camilla Swift tracks down a few characters from across the country

Yasmin Ingham

Winning a senior championship class this autumn was a breakthrough moment for a rider who is still only 23. Pippa Roome talks to the eventer about taking ferries to competitions and Paris 2024

‘It's all about the jumping'

Kim Bailey reveals how some eventing input pays dividends on his yard

Lifting spirits

In Covid times, the only hip-flask contents you can share are recipes. Victoria Rea offers some of the best to lift the spirits and diminish the size of those hedges

The Wright stuff

A handful of hardy riders brave the weather to watch the Exmoor hounds at work, hunted brilliantly by Tony Wright

Bristol De Mai returns to a hat-trick

Bristol De Mai proves he’s the ultimate definition of horses for courses by taking his third Betfair Chase