CATEGORIES

A tale of two Christmases

H&H’s inaugural Christmas shortstory competition produced a feast of wintry tales for the judges, from the poignant to the ghostly to the downright funny. Here are our two winners

Sonnar Murray-Brown

The international dressage rider tells Polly Bryan how he has rebuilt his career following catastrophic injury

Totilas

The black stallion and his phenomenal scores lit up the dressage world. Alice Collins tracks his path to fame and the story behind his high-profile sale

Livanos leads the way

A young rider recovers from a rare condition to take grand prix victory, while international prospects excel

Mad Max

Powerful but “a pussycat around the hounds”, this “reformed character” thrives on being one of the pack

Groundhog day

Tessa Waugh is feeling “flat” – albeit thankful to be fed, watered, and sheltered – and will be glad to see the back of 2020. On the upside, rose hips abound, life is busy – and there’s a shiny new fence

A top-class pack of hounds

The hard-working Bicester with Whaddon Chase team enjoy great support, and are proof of how a hunt can operate successfully in an increasingly busy country

Howley holds the lead

Irishman Richard Howley claims grand prix honours in the competitive 1.45m finale, while an 11-year-old stallion steps up for Anna Power

Daisy Berkeley

The Olympic medallist on appreciating every moment with the horses and people you love, and the importance of feeding the best you can afford

Adapting to survive - and thrive

Kennel-sharing arrangements are becoming increasingly popular, and are a good way boost both packs’ coffers, discovers Rebecca Jordan

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