The Equestrian Blog

Ben Maher aiming high at Windsor

Ben Maher lies second, just 1.83 penalty points off the lead, going into the final day of the European Championship Showjumping at Windsor Castle.

The 26-year-old is aiming high in an effort to join John Whitaker, Paddy MacMahon, David Barker and David Broome as Britain's only individual title-winners.

Italy's Natale Chiaudani leads, with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Albert Zoer and Steve Guerdat also pressing Maher.

Michael Whitaker suspended in horse doping case

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has confirmed British rider Michael Whitaker has been provisionally suspended after his mount Thackeray tested positive in a competition last May at La Baule, France.

The FEI said Thackeray would remain grounded until the B sample has been analysed.

Michael Whitaker believes the synthetic hormone altrenogest was administered to the horse with its feed. The substance is found in Regu-Mate and is used as an anti-irritant in hot conditions.

Younger brother of British showjumping champion John Whitaker, Michael could now miss the European Championships which take place at Windsor at the end of August.

Regu-Mate promotional material lists its benefits and uses as ...

Regu-Mate the proven performer for performance mares - When you’re campaigning a mare, every advantage counts. That’s why more and more trainers are turning to Regu-Mate to suppress estrus and make their mares’ performances more predictable.

• Regu-Mate effectively suppresses estrus in 95 percent of mares after 3 days of treatment.
• When treatment is discontinued, mares exhibiting regular estrous cycles return to estrus within 4 to 5 days following treatment and continue to cycle normally.
• Regu-Mate can help alleviate moodiness and temperament changes associated with estrus.
• It’s easy to administer – orally or top-dressed on grain.

BSJA Launch New Series

The BSJA has launched a new £60,000 competition series at UK County Shows.

The series will run at Devon County, Royal Highland, South of England, Great Yorkshire, Royal Norfolk, New Forest, Pembroke and Royal Berkshire.

It will carry a total of £60,000 in prize-money and will be funded by the British Show Jumping Association Business Partnership and their county show venues.

The 1.50m eight class series will be run on a league table points system and will conclude at Royal Berkshire in September.

The league table will carry a bonus of £45,000 worth of rider ranking points with £10,000 of those going to the winner. Ranking points will be awarded in a sliding scale down to 8th place alongside the competition cash prizes.

"It's superb we have been able to introduce a series at this level that meet our objectives for assessing horse and rider, and is a great stepping stone for those capable of progressing to four and five star Nation's cup competitions," said newly appointed chairman of the international committee Clare Whitaker.

"This is a fantastic series made possible by the BSJA Business Partnership, which was formed with a view to bring like-minded businesses together through the sport to assist in delivery of medals for Great Britain" said the BSJA spokesman Maria Clayton.

Full Details on the BSJA website

Quote Of The Day – HRH Duke of Edinburgh

A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment.

Duke of Endinburgh

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The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921) is the husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II.

Originally a Prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip abandoned these titles shortly before his marriage.  At the time of his engagement he was known as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.

In 1947, he married Princess Elizabeth, the heiress to King George VI. Prince Philip was a member of the German House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which includes the royal houses of Denmark, Norway and Greece.

The day before his marriage, George VI granted him the style of His Royal Highness and, on the morning of the marriage, created him Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.

In 1957, Philip was created a Prince of the United Kingdom. When he became a British subject Prince Philip took the surname Mountbatten, which is an anglicised version of his mother's German family name, Battenberg.

Joining the Royal Navy in 1939, Prince Philip saw active service throughout the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He was present in Tokyo harbour when Japan surrendered.

After Princess Elizabeth became Queen, Prince Philip gave up his naval career to support The Queen in her duties. The Duke of Edinburgh has no constitutional role other than as a Privy Counsellor, and sees no State papers.

But through his active support of a wide range of charities, and through his own initiatives for young people, The Duke of Edinburgh has played a major role both nationally and internationally.

Like The Queen, Prince Philip is a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria. The Queen and Prince Philip are also related through his father's side. His paternal grandfather, King George I of Greece, was Queen Alexandra's brother.