The Hoofbeat Chronicles is a personal blog about horses, horse business and equestrian sport. The good, the bad and the ugly. Hope you'll like it!
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
It began like it so often does: a perfectly ordinary class at a local jumping show. The horse jumps clear. It is all smiles, at least till someone check their phone and realise the official time is completely off and says, “That can’t be right.”
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
On Sunday I finally came out to walk some courses and see some horses in action. We decided to target a national event with 90cm, 100cm and 110cm eventing on the schedule.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Let’s talk about the issues with the CCI1*-Intro eventing format. The main problem is it should never have seen the light of day. At least not in its current format.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
In the horse world, social media has made it easy for influencers to create a picture-perfect version of their lives — but a lot of it just isn’t real. Some riders exaggerate their skills, horse care routines, or competition results to look more impressive than they are.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Apparently, Agria, the insurance company, needed to commission an external survey to figure out something that’s been common knowledge to horse people since like the dawn of tack rooms, which is a lot of riders lack basic structure when it comes to training and competition.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Doping control is the backbone of clean sport—but what happens when the setting itself undermines the very tests meant to protect integrity? How can a doping test even be considered valid when collected in a totally uncontrolled environment?
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Lately, I’ve had this feeling I can’t shake. Like maybe—just maybe—I’m not shouting into the void after all. Because there are more of us now. More voices speaking up. Writers, riders, critics, and fans.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Let's be honest, it should never be allowed nor possible to buy a five star show jumper and head straight into the highest level of the sport without any previous experience. However, sorting the problem out with the help of MERs, as being discussed right now doesn't feel like the right way to go.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Lo and behold, I am actually an approved lower level dressage judge. I've also taken the initial showjumping course designing diplomas. But it is fair to say I did not build nor judge for many, many years now.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
An investigation into a high-profile equestrian operation in Scandinavia has revealed troubling details about the management of veterinary substances and stable protocols.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
A Belgian eventing horse has tested positive for the controlled substance Lidocaine, resulting in the case being listed under the Table of Administrative Sanctions.
The Hoofbeat Chronicles
Every year on April 1st, the world collectively seem to agree that lying is hilarious. April Fools’ Day, is the one time when pranks and hoaxes seem not only tolerated but encouraged. Meanwhile they inflict mild to severe trauma with the recipients.