Izzy Palmer is back in the saddle and raising awareness of concussion, following her fall at the end of 2022. Rising British star Izzy Palmer is back in the saddle and looking forward to an exciting 2023 following a “freak” accident before the new year. Izzy spoke to H&H about the importance of listening to your body and looking after your head as she returns to riding. The grade IV para rider, named as one of H&H’s stars of Christmas a few years ago, has had numerous international wins, and has competed up to prix st georges level in able-bodied classes. “It wasn’t the start of the y ..read more

The summer show season will be here before you know it, so now is the perfect time to brush up on your plaiting and Alan Davies is here to help. We hear from the top groom, who has kept Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin’s horses in pristine condition over the past decade, to learn his top tips when it comes to perfect plaits. From prepping the mane to why he prefers bands to stitching, discover Alan Davies’ plaiting secrets… 1. Don’t be afraid of using scissors Alan explains that how you look after the mane will depend on the individual horse and their type of hair. “For horses with thick ..read more

Carl Hester - Great Britain selected Equestrian Dressage athletes - Tokyo2020 Carl Hester has withdrawn from the CDI3* at Addington after he suffered an injury to his foot. Carl was entered for the event, which runs from today (16 March) to Sunday, on Fiona Bigwood, Penny Bigwood, Mette Dahl and Anders Dahl’s 17-year-old stallion Fame, but has had to pull out. “I had a fall, not from a horse, and have damaged my foot, which has now swelled, meaning I can’t get my riding boot on,” said Carl. “As it’s early in the season, I’m in no rush to get the horse out so have sadly decided to withdraw Fame ..read more

Isabell Werth and Bella Rose 2 Bella Rose 2, Isabell Werth’s former world and European champion and Olympic team gold medallist, has welcomed her first foal aged 19. “We are very happy that Bella Rose gave birth to a healthy colt last night (13 March),” said Isabell. The foal, who has been named Via Bellani, is by seven-year-old Hannoverian stallion Valdiviani, who is by Veneno and out of a Fidertanz mare. Isabell has previously spoken highly of Valdiviani, saying she was “100% convinced of his potential”. Isabell said Bella is “very proud” of her offspring. View this post on Instagram A pos ..read more

There is another opportunity to get tickets for Paris 2024 as the second ballot opens – just 500 days until the Games. Registration opens today (15 March) and will run until 20 April. Those who are successful in the random draw will be given a 48-hour timeslot to buy single-session tickets for all days of competition across the Games – including those with medal ceremonies. Prices for the Paris 2024 equestrian tickets start from €24 (£21) for qualifying sessions. The most expensive session is the showjumping individual final, which has a top price of €420 (£367). Subject to availability, any ..read more

Carl Hester on accessibility and the benefits of viewing greatness in person and online Carl Hester, pictured at the World Dressage and Para Dressage Championships in Herning, spent much of 2022 in training mode. Going back 30 years or so, the British Dressage Convention was a cause of annual excitement. Dr Reiner Klimke and Herbert Rehbein were just two of the legends to have offered their wisdom there. The events were hugely popular as chances for people to see these top trainers were limited due to expense or lack of opportunity, as they still are with riders so busy training and riding. Th ..read more

Lottie & Glamourdale Den Bosch World Cup leg March 2023 World champions Lottie Fry and Glamourdale dominated in ’s-Hertogenbosch with two victories, in their first international outing since the London International Horse Show. Lottie and the Van Olst’s 12-year-old stallion were competing in the final World Cup qualifier of the season, the Dutch Masters (12-13 March). They were joined by top names including Britain’s Laura Tomlinson and Fallatijn, the Netherlands’ Dinja Van Liere and Hermes, and Germany’s Isabell Werth and Emilio 107, and Benjamin Werndl and Famoso OLD. In Thursday’s (9 Ma ..read more

Equestrian sport. Portrait sports stallion in the double bridle.The legs of the rider in the stirrup, riding on a brown horse. Dressage of horses in the arena. Confused by certain dressage terminology you may have heard? Say no more. We’re here to help with our handy dressage jargon buster, to decipher all those weird and wonderful dressage terms you’ll hear around the competition circuit. From middle tour to hors concours, we’ve got the most confusing competitive dressage terminology covered, so you’ll always know what’s what. Small tour – a collective term referring to the lowest of the FEI ..read more

MSJ Florenza, pictured with Amy Woodhead at Hartpury in 2021. British dressage rider Gemma Owen has a new ride following the “heartbreaking” loss of her junior team horse Sirius Black III (“Siz”). Gemma, 19, is leasing the up-and-coming mare MSJ Florenza (Faye) from owner Emma Blundell of Mount St John stud until the end of the year. The eight-year-old mare is out of Diaz (by embryo transfer), who Emma competed to inter II, and by top stallion Fürstenball. Her CV boasts strong results in young horse classes and she was crowned medium gold regional champion at Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre wi ..read more

Among the Harry Potters – and Harry Windsors – who celebrated World Book Day last week (2 March), there was one star of the dressage arena. Seven-year-old Tamara Bremner-Martin wore her own jacket, white jodhpurs and boots as she went as Charlotte Dujardin to Yattendon Primary School. The medals round her neck were those she has won, including one from the British Riding Clubs dressage championship last year, and she took along her copy of Charlotte’s autobiography The Girl on the Dancing Horse. Mum Nicolle told H&H Tamara has ridden since she was two, and “does everything” with her pony ..read more