Reward and tributes as inspirational medallist retires, plus different issues the horse world is speaking about

Main figures pay tribute to inspirational rider on her retirement

Final Tuesday, H&H reported that a number of medal-winning Paralympian Sophie Christiansen had introduced her retirement from the game. Since then, the nice and the nice of the horse world have shared their recollections of Sophie’s best achievements, and praised the impression she has had.

Michel Assouline, who coached the UK para dressage crew from 2005 and 2017, mentioned: “You actually had an unimaginable profession, notably a minimum of being twice a Paralympic triple gold medallist, London 2012 and Rio 2016, which I had the honour to witness as a part of the GB crew, and several other world and European Championships gold medals too!

“Our complete neighborhood is actually in admiration of your extraordinary accomplishments. The reminiscence of your presence on the world stage as a top-class athlete goes to ship an enduring impression and legacy on para dressage.”

Learn additional tributes to Sophie

Supreme in-hand champion Shetland dies aged 35

A Shetland who made three appearances at London Worldwide Horse Present, together with changing into supreme in-hand veteran champion, and who “would have walked by flames for you”, has died aged 35.

Homeowners Adam and Ally Pike needed to have Minnie The Moocher put down this 12 months as age had caught up together with her. The mare took the Veteran Horse Society (VHS) title in 2013, aged 24.

“She was a implausible pony,” Adam mentioned. “She was really easy at a present; I by no means led her in a bit and he or she was by no means afraid of something. We’ve had some ponies who wouldn’t stroll by water – however she would have walked by flames for you. She has left an enormous gap in our hearts.”

Discover out extra about this glorious pony

Producer advocates “placing the brakes on” when coaching younger stars

There has lengthy been debate about one of the best ways to supply younger horses. In a current interview with H&H, producer and showjumper Jennifer Thompson shared her secrets and techniques of success – and the necessity to tackle the horse’s psychological in addition to bodily improvement. Jennifer imports primarily unbroken three- and four-year-olds from Europe to supply and promote – horses which have included Tim Gredley’s championship experience Medoc De Toxandria, often known as Eddie.

“The whole lot you probably did with Eddie was like he’d been there and finished that every one earlier than,” says Jennifer. “Proper from the get go, every thing you requested of him he was prepared to maneuver on to the subsequent stage. As a producer you needed to put the brakes on as a result of each time you requested him a query, he’d come again with ‘I can do this, now give me one thing extra’. It was so tempting and he may have been a horse that was rushed and ruined in his early days.”

Discover out extra about this rider’s strategy

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H&H editor-in-chief

Sarah has greater than 20 years expertise as an equestrian journalist and editor. She has reported from main championships together with the Europeans and the World Equestrian Video games. She has co-written books on equestrianism together with The Full Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Sarah has ridden since childhood, owned horses and ponies for over 25 years, and labored for and educated with Olympic gold medallist occasion rider Leslie Legislation previous to going to college.