Jumping Mare already taking significant ribbons: 2015 Millstreet 4yr Discovery Reserve Champion and, this year, 2016 Millstreet 5yr Old Finalist
For Sale on Horse Scout
Home bred 5 year old jumping mare with a respectable purse of over £300 and recent 5* vetting. She currently jumping 1.25m and her Irish breeders andante producers have lightly competed her through 4 and 5 year old classes. She has the scope to easily step up into 1,30m classes and they are confident of her ability to come through very well as a six year old.
This attractive mare shows a ‘will do’ attitude to her work and has shown herself as careful and very genuine with lots of scope to progress in the years ahead. She will make someone a wonderful competition prospect for the coming season.
She is expected to make 16hh so would be suitable for the smaller rider looking for a genuine jumping horse for sale.
Vivendi Time certainly has the performance breeding to back her obvious breeding:
Her Sire is Ars Vendi (Accord II) and her dam is by Trytime, (v. Numero Uno, World Ranked top 10 sires for 10 years) a very successful sire in the Irish Jumping scene who only covered 50 mares.
Did you know that Horse Scout hosts many top professional producers our mainstream breeders and gives you access to the top class competition horses for sale and breeding stallions at stud from around the world. If you are looking to buy a horse or breed your own Horse Scout is the best place you could be looking.
Zazou Snow: A striking Novice Event Horse, with considerable scope to progress, is for sale through Aaron Millar from his yard Aaron Millar Eventing at Court Farm in Dorset, and also advertised on the Horse Scout Horses For Sale pages. This bold gelding with a careful but scopey jump has been producing consistently across country. Aaron says that he has a super temperament and is very easy to do, always a bonus when with the Farrier or being clipped! He is a happy versatile horse who is as happy living out as in and has proved popular on Aarons yard. A great choice as a mother daughter share or for a teenager who is coming off ponies. He is fit, ready to compete and ready for his next five star home.
By Concorde, this flea bitten grey thoroughbred X is the perfect size as a mother daughter share of for the smaller rider, standing at 16hh he is connected to three of Horse Scouts Stallions at Stud namely:
Nameless Rstanding for The Stallion Company and for Select Stallions so feel free to look at these horses through either this link or this one.
Aaron also has another lovely coloured horse, April Shower, who is also 16hh and is currently ridden by a light weight girl so a viewing of both horses would give potential buyers the choice. This young mare is snaffled mouthed in all three phases and has been XC schooling and has hunted in for a season Ireland and completed some training shows. this attractive 5 year old has three smart paces making her a dream horse for a competitive teenager and an easy ride for Mum!
The Dorset-based rider gives his tips on training young event horses and explains how he’s building up a stable of top horses after a tragic road accident in 2015.
You had a serious car crash in 2015, are you fully recovered and what are your main goals?
Yes, I’m lucky… I’m now concentrating on building up the business. I lost quite a few horses to other riders after the accident – you can’t expect owners to wait for you to recover but it’s also taught be to rejig the business and I now have shares in all the horses.
So how are you building the business back up?
I have someone in Ireland who sends horses over. Anything good enough to go to the very top we keep. Anything else we keep, produce and sell. The plan is to have a top string of horses at all levels and to achieve that I’ve set up a syndicate of owners. Sarah Wild, a lady who used to work on Wall Street, helped me create an amazing business plan to offer investors.
And you also offer a scheme, Affordable Eventing, whereby you don’t have to invest large amounts of money?
Yes, it’s aimed at people who love the sport but can’t afford to be an owner. You invest a monthly fee, get the similar benefits as if you were the owner, but instead you have an interest in four horses that run. You get a day a month at the yard watching them trained, free entry to all BE fixtures and a share of the profit if they’re sold.
Tell us about your main horse.
I have a good advanced horse Leonardo VIII (Leo) who I compete at 3 star and who I’ve produced since a four-year-old. He’s 13 (2003) out of a TB mare and Dutch stallion (Maximillian Voltucky). He’s a real character and loves his job. He’s done Blenheim, placed in advanced classes.
Tell us about your other horses.
I could have bought a couple of really good established horses with the money from investors, but then there’s the risk that if one goes lame, there’s only one running, so instead I’ve chosen four or five top five-year-olds.
They’ve got serious potential….William Fox Pitt asked to buy a couple but they’re not for sale unless I get offered a ridiculous price I can’t refuse!
Friendship VDL is a 16.3hh six-year old gelding by Azteca VDL. He’s had some good placings at BE100.
Galoping B is a 16.2hh five-year old gelding by Bustique with a couple of placings at BE100.
Gold Flush is a 16.2hh five year old mare by Andiamo. I went to see a three-year old after my accident and I saw her in the corner. She’d just come over from Holland and had probably been on a farm or something as she clearly hadn’t been handled very much and looked a bit like an RSPCA case. I’m not sure what is was, but I just saw something in her. I bought her and sent her to my parents to be turned out to chill out and get fat, then brought her on slowly. She’s gone out as a five-year-old and been placed every time.
So what do you look for in an event horse?
Around 60 per cent thoroughbred and something that has quality movement, jump and temperament. I’m looking for a couple more – they’re hard to find! At the lower levels the foreign horses look smart but they’re not always careful and get tired at a high level if they jump huge over every fence. They can also get bored if they’ve gone from the stable to the school from a four-year old. The Irish, however, go hunting, they gallop hills, jump ditches, learn where their feet are and how to look after themselves and conserve energy. The cross country phase is so important now as we saw recently in Rio.
What tips would you give others looking to buy an event horse
Temperament is vital – finding a horse loves its job and wants to do it.
Riders who want an advanced horse will of course need something that has a little sharpness and to be able to dig deep. By sharpness I don’t mean something that whips round… I mean alert, switched on and able to deal and learn from its mistakes.
Any Horses for sale now (August 2016)?
I have one that would make an ideal junior young rider. It will easily jump a two-star advanced but for me it behaves too well… it just doesn’t have that spark I’m looking for to go to the very top.
What’s the best horse you’ve produced?
I guess it was Allercombe Ellie whom I produced from a five-year-old up to three-star level. In 2014 she was selected for the World Games and for Rio with Izzy Taylor but unfortunately she never went as she was lame. Knowing I’ve produced a horse to that calibre is really exciting.
What horse will you never forget?
Stormstay (Henry) who took me to my first Badminton – we had a faultless round cross country. He also gave me two clear rounds at Burghley before I retired him.
Any tips for people training a young event horse?
If it’s a young horse then take it hunting. They learn how to conserve energy and really dig deep when they are tired. Fitness is vital for any event horse and they also need core strength so we do a lot of pole work on lunge. We have our show jumps and dressage arenas in a field – young horses move naturally forwards in a field, whereas in the school they’re often not in front of your leg. They tend to enjoy working much more if you go for a short hack first. You can generally tell a horse that goes from the box to the school and back.
Describe a typical working week for your young horses.
On a Monday they might be hacked then go in the school long and low.
We use a lot of raised trot poles on floor to help them strengthen their core and develop their trot, and canter poles to help their jumping.
On Tuesday they’re hacked then worked more ‘up together’ on the flat in the field or in dressage arena.
On Wednesday they’d jump – depending on the horse they might go through a grid in the school or jump in the field. They’ll also go for a canter afterwards.
Thursday is an easier day – they’ll be hacked or be lunged over poles.
Friday depends on whether they’re competing the next day. If they’re going to a show, they might have little pop over a jump or two, or work through a test.
All of our horses get time out religiously every day. My main aim is that I want them to enjoy their job and to be doing four star eventing at 13-14 years old.
What’s your goal?
To be at the stage I was before the accident. I want to get back to Badminton and Burghley but I’m not in a rush. I have some very nice young horses but I want a yard full of horses with a high value of £30k upwards. At the moment we make it work by selling horses at£15k-£20k. We need a couple more investors and horses.
Interview for Horse Scout by Sam Lewis
Aaron Millar International Event Rider talks to Horse Scout about selling horses
Aaron Millar talks to horse Scout about producing and selling event horses on horse scout.
Follow Aaron Millar and keep up-to-date on his progress and the horses he has up for sale either through his profile page here or on our Horses for Sale pages by using these links. We have also a blog about Aarons’ horses for sale.
Zazou Snow by Concorde; Zazou Snow is connected by breeding to four other stallions advertised on our Stallions at stud pages
Aaron Millar also has a lovely young coloured horse April Showerfor sale, to find out more link to his Horses for Sale page on the Horse Scout web site.
Charlie Hutton – International dressage rider – Talland School of Equitation, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Want to know what Charlie Hutton looks for in a dressage horse, how to get that elusive 80% and what it was like growing up at Talland? The international dressage star chats to Horse Scout and reveals the characters of his top horses, plus his insights into training them and his students
You’re the son of Pammy Hutton… were you born in the saddle?
Well, I don’t remember this, but apparently I started out riding in a basket on the back of a pony when I was just two years old. And then not much later I was put on one of my mum’s friend’s Grand Prix horses and was bucked off. It was downhill from there!
So you were always into horses?
No, actually I was always into sport and loved rugby and rowing but I wasn’t really interested in dressage until I was 14. Before that my mum used to bribe me and give me a pound every time I had a lesson — and let’s just say I wasn’t rich!
So what was your favourite discipline and what did you want to be when you grew up?
I jumped and hunted but the truth is I was more interested in the sausage rolls and port!
In terms of a career, I had high hopes of becoming an architectural engineer but then I got the dressage bug.
What made you change your mind and enjoy dressage? A particular horse?
No, for me it just wasn’t satisfying to walk, trot and canter. It was when I had the ‘OMG moment’ as I started to understand that you can communicate with a horse in such a unique way in dressage. Dressage requires such a wonderful bond with horse and rider. I remember at 14, going up to my mum and telling her I wanted to ride seriously and she just laughed because I think by then she’d just given up hope.
What’s your biggest achievement to date?
I’m still waiting for it! Seriously, I haven’t got what I want yet.
But if I had to mention the ‘stand out’ moments it would be going to the Youth Olympics where I won team gold and individual silver. It gave me a real taste of what it must be like to be at an Olympics. Another memorable moment was at Bolesworth this year where Super Blue and I won the feature event beating Charlotte Dujardin — the lap of honour was really magical because there was Carl and I trotting around together as winners and Super Blue really gave me everything he had that night.
And your ultimate goal?
I’d like to be on a senior championship team in the next few years and I’ve always had it on my list to go to the Olympics, although I’ve realised that it’s harder in real life than on paper… as there’s a horse involved, it’s not just about how hard you train.
So who has — and still is — influential in your training?
My mother, Carl Hester and I also spent a few months with the German Olympic team training under Johnny Hilberath.
What were the big lessons they taught you?
My mum taught me a huge amount about test riding, and how to be crafty in the ring, while my time in Germany, instilled in me the basics and how to be quiet and discrete — you have to sit still (you can’t move at all).
Carl? Well, he picks up on things that you’ve been struggling with and revolutionises your way of going, often by saying one line that you go home with, think about, try and then discover it works. As he often says: “The simple way is the best way”. He is such a wonderful rider and is someone I have always looked up to.
And you also teach/coach?
Yes too much! Last year I taught over 2,000 lessons and I freelance all around the world in Europe and America.
At what level do you instruct?
Any! I teach anyone willing and I get a thrill seeing people improve whatever their level.
What’s the hardest thing about being a coach?
Improving the connection with horse and rider. The rider needs to be able to feel… you can’t just say ‘kick now’, ‘half halt now’. It’s so subtle but it’s the difference between getting 70% to 80%.
Any tips on how to achieve this?
It’s appropriate to the person I’m teaching and I’m learning that being a coach is more about being a counsellor and psychologist. Some people take it far too seriously and improve when they’re reminded to go out, have fun and enjoy it. Others need their back side kicking because they can do it but they’re all airy fairy… then there’s the complex person with a huge amount of ability (but doesn’t believe it) and switches between ‘I can’t do it’ and then ‘I can’ and puts too much pressure on.
If I had to give one tip that applies to a lot of students it would be ‘Be brave — trust your instincts and have confidence’.
And you also coach your wife Abi… is that challenging?
I would say ‘no’ she would probably say ‘yes’.
At first it was hard, I wanted her to do better than anyone else and got too intense but Carl warned me: “Rather than you making your wife cry and go into another man’s arms, why not let me do that and let her run into yours”. I now try to take the pressure off and Abi has learnt that when she thinks I’m not right, I sometimes am (especially when I have video footage to prove it!)
How do you keep fit?
I ride around five to seven horses a day… I love sport and staying fit and do quite a bit of running and play squash from time to time.
Tell us about your top horses?
At the top level, there’s Super Blue, a 17hh, 11-year-old gelding by Showstar, owned by Judy Peploe. I’ve had the ride since 2013 and he’s now training at Grand Prix and competing at middle tour. He’s not much of a thinker but it suits his nature to let me set the rules. He’s also a bit spooky and notorious for standing on his hind legs in prize givings.
I’m also riding an exciting future prospect called Hawkins Rosanna, a powerhouse with huge potential and ability. She’s an eight-year old chestnut mare by Ruben Royale and again, owned by Judy Peploe. I’ve been riding her for 18 months and it’s taken a long time to discuss with her the principles of dressage — at the beginning it was her way or the highway! I’ve now built up a relationship and she’s listening more. It’s been a true test of character to be patient and not to worry that she’s behind in her development. I am lightly competing at elementary and medium and plan to do more at medium and advanced medium later this year.
So do you prefer geldings?
No, I’ve ridden geldings, mares and stallions and every horse is different. I had a mare that I trained that was so easy it took just four days to teach piaffe!
You can’t just put label on it but mares generally take a bit longer because hormones involved.
So do you look more towards breeding when buying a dressage horse?
To a degree, yes. Breeding is good on paper for when it comes to selling a horse. It increases value if there’s a particular stallion that’s famous.
And do you prefer a certain bloodline or type of horse?
If I have a choice I’d probably choose a German horse over Dutch but generally they don’t have to have big movement, I just want them to move loosely through the back and show elasticity and natural suppleness. It’s important to look more to their paces, ability and desire to learn.
How do you keep your horses fit, strong, supple — and happy?
We’re very fortunate at our yard to have a steep hill leading up to a ridgeway so we do a lot of work up that in walk or at a very slow trot to strengthen their hind quarters — if they have a slight weakness, going up a hill slowly helps them to move their legs in straight fashion.
They’re also lunged in the EquiAmi to encourage them to stretch loose, long and low and we also use polework — it’s important to keep a varied routine.
Why Horse Scout?
It has sleek and stylish branding and there’s plenty of content from horses and stallions to riders and trainers — it’s unique to have it all combined together in one place.
Interview by Sam Lewis
Charlie Hutton Professional Dressage Rider
Charlie Hutton a professional dressage producer interviewed by Sam Lewis for Horse Scout
Eoin Gallagher, The Irish international show jumper, based in Lincoln talks to Horse Scout about producing top class young horses and his dream to ride for his country.
How did you get into show jumping?
I’m actually not from an equestrian background at all… Born in County Down, I’m from a Gaelic footballing family, but as I was seriously ill with meningitis when I was seven, I was too weak to play. My next door neighbour went to pony lessons so I ended up tagging along. One day he stopped going. I never did…
What are your biggest achievements since then?
As a Junior I managed to get on a few trips to England with some good results, then a bursary to train with Stephen Hadley followed on from that. I was National Inter Varsity champion in Ireland when I attended Ulster university, before securing a full-time job with Dermott Lennon.
This year I had a couple of 2nds at a CSI 3-star show in Lanaken, Belgium, with Corbeagh Luxor in the 1.45m classes. More recently I have won a few 1.40m classes on the national circuit with horses I have produced from a young age.
Tell us about Corbeagh Luxor
He’s an 11-year-old, 16.2hh gelding — Irish bred (Corbeagh Vella x Lux Z (KWPN)).
I only began riding him this year and had some of the best results after just two months. He is scopey but like many Irish, easy to ride. Due to the success at Lanaken and various placings, he’s just been sold. I’m disappointed to no longer be able to compete him but he has a promising future with his new owners.
So you prefer riding Irish-bred horses?
Most Irish horses are fun and straight forward.
Some of the Continentals are more talented but take more figuring out to get better results.
So do you breed and if so what?
I just started breeding with my mare Loughview Diamond Lux (half sister to Loughview Lou Lou) as she unfortunately got injured earlier in the year. I picked the stallion Action Breaker (son of Heartbreaker) — a KWPN. I chose Action Breaker as I was very impressed by his jumping technique, his attitude and rideability. His qualities compliment my mares very well.
Tell us about some of your other horses.
Lord Luidam is an 8-year old, 16.3hh gelding (Luidam x Northern Madera) who belongs to my wife. We’ve had him since he was five, and this year he stepped up to 1.40m classes, winning the Nottinghamshire County Show in May.
Illustro De Laubry is an 8-year-old, 16.2hh gelding (Beverly VD Heffinck out of Uganda De Laubry x Darco) who I ride for Sophie Marsh and her family and is jumping up to 1.30m.
Laroc is a 7-year-old German-bred gelding, also owned by the Marsh family. I’ve only had him for six months and I’m producing him slowly, giving him time to mature. He won a 1.30m class at Messingham Show recently.
Finally, Quontum, an 8-year-old gelding owned by Melanie Davison, is here for the summer.
What is your goal this year and beyond?
Longterm it’s every rider’s goal to ride for their country and if that opportunity arises I’ll grab it.
I’ve never really had any long-term campaigners at a higher level because the 8-year-olds get sold on and I’ve always had slightly younger (5,6,7 year olds) to produce.
For now, I’ll continue to build a strong team of horses and maintain good relationships with their owners to help keep moving the business forward.
You’ve have a lot of experience training young horses — any tips?
Be patient! It’s very easy to get disillusioned as they can be challenging and keep you guessing. When I was younger I was guilty of thinking of the next show and not thinking about a year down the line… I guess I’ve grown to learn it’s not always about tomorrow but the longterm, particularly with the young ones. In terms of their weekly schedule, like any of my horses they get a day off every week and turnout every day in the paddock. More time (eg three sessions a week) will be spent on flatwork than jumping and I find lunging on the pessoa can help too.
Do you train with someone?
Not often enough. If I am struggling with something, I’ll go to Dermot Lennon.
He helped me last summer and a couple of little things made a huge difference. By letting his head down a bit and lengthening and shortening the trot and canter, the horse gained more strength and started working better.
What are your top tips for buying a show jumper?
Don’t make any rash decisions and, if you are not sure, ask someone you respect.
A lot of riders are confident in their own ability and think they can make a horse better, but it’s easier to have a good horse and let it teach you, than try to make a bad one into a good one.
What’s the best tip you’ve ever been given?
If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got.
I think that applies to life, not just horses.
Another good bit of advice, I think by 2006 World Champion Jos Lansink, is that when things go wrong go back to the basics.
Who else has inspired you?
Growing up… Eddie Macken, who is retired now.
More recently, Scott Brash has been an inspiration to whole industry — someone the same age as me beating the guys who have been around for generations…
I also admire John Whitaker at the highest level.
Why Horse Scout?
I liked it from the moment I saw it. It’s great that there is somewhere that targets more elite horse sales and the social/connections side of Horse Scout is so different from any other equestrian website — it’s cool that someone has finally thought outside the box!
Interview by Sam Lewis
Eoin Gallagher International Show Jumper Listed on Horse Scout
Horse Scout talks to Eoin Gallagher, international Irish horse producer
How Horse Scout Connects You To The Best.
Horse Scout is dedicated to Sharing information about its professionals and the quality stallions listed at stud.
Listed on the Horse Scout Horses For Sale pages he has two fabulous competition horses for sale, one of whom Illustro de Laubry is a Belgian Warmblood has already won several fox hunter classes and qualified for Newcomers, who also has Darco breeding, is by Bently Van De Heffinck listed on our Stallions at Stud pages by The Stallion Company. We have a blog about Bentley Van De Hefflink which you can read here.
His second horse listed Lord Luidam, a star in the making this horse is already competing at Grand Prix. Eoin has produced him since he was five and is justifiably proud of this lovely horse.
Bently Van de Heffinck and his son, Heartbreaker, have a great number of sibling connections on Horse Scout.
Modern Jumping Stallions listed on Horse Scout
Bently Van de Heffinczk’s son Heartbreaker is ranked 6th in the WBSFH Showjumping stallions 2015 and we have several of their progeny listed on the Horse Scout Horses For Sale pages.
Owned by The Stallion Company this stunning 16.3hh bay stallion Bently Van De Heffinck combines the best of modern jump breeding. His sire line is through Darco and Clinton with Heartbreaker, the classic modern stallion, producing the enormously successful stallion Cornet Obolensky. Gently Van de Huffinck has already produced a crop of impressive French and Belgian champions.
He not only passes on his talent and powerful conformation but also it is apparently that his youngsters are mentally well able to cope with the pressures of top competition.
Listed by The Stallion Company on Horse Scouts Stallion Listings pages Bently Van De Heffinczk has progeny on Horse Scouts for sale pages
Heartbreaker sibling connections and also horses for sale.
Orlando Stallion by Heartbreaker, listed as a Stallion at Stud on Horse Scout; a successful stallion in his own right with proven competition stock. This copy powerful young stallion has a very reasonably priced fee. Standing with The Stallion Company along side his sibling HSF Valantino who was hugely successful as a four and five year old, but who, after moving to USA has since died. British breeders are given the opportunity to take advantage of a limited stock of his semen through The Stallion Company
Another Heartbreaker Stallion Temple Tamability stands for Jack Hopson in Northaw in Nottinghamshire as a Breeders Elite SEIS Stallion was voted by the KWPN as their 2015 Horse Of The Year and is one of the highest ranking stallion in Holland and Belgium. Not only is he hugely successful on the international circuit but his progeny are also very successful.
Horses for Sale by Heartbreaker listed on Horse Scout
Royaldik – a fabulous Bay Oldenburg Stallion standing 16.2hh
Horse Scout never misses a connection and Royaldik is the sire of Treworrian (Warrior) a 2013 impressive looking bay gelding who is showing “an impressive jump”. Listed in Horse Scout Horses For Sale pages and produced at the Preci Spark Event Horses competition and breeding yard in Lowesby, Leicestershire. The horses bred here from proven mares are found in the top stables including with Ollie Townsend, and have competed as far away as Australia.
Treworrian (Warrior) looks every bit as classy as his sire Royaldik who is a classic thoroughbred type sporthorse, built to please with first class conformation and top class movement this elegant Stallion profiled on Horse Scout shows himself with a correct jump and a stunning hind leg movement. Percy Spark Event Horses have used Royaldik with great success in their breeding programme with Tregida taking Elite Premium at the Futurity Awards along with many others featuring in their ribbons also by Royaldik.
His progeny are recognised as having exceptional readability and temperament scores Royaldik himself scoring the highest in his own performance testing at both 30 and 70 day performances with success in the competition arena in both show jumping and dressage.
His pedigree reads like a royal decree! with a suburb line up in both eventing and dressage. His sire Royal Diamond brings the legendary Rubinstein who competed at Grand Prix at the age of 9 and his dam is full sister to the epic Thoroughbred stallion Heraldik xx who sired two gold medal event horses Butts Abrades and Butts Leon, who came 2nd at Badminton, a Chastworth winner and competitors in the European Dressage Championships and by 2015 he had no less than five horses at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
Heraldik xx currently is the 3rd highest ranking Event Station on the WBFS listing, and he has consistently been ranked in the top 3 since 2008. Rhdiamant, Royaldik’s full brother, has been ranked 3rd as a dressage stallion by the The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).
Find out more about this successful Oldenburg Stallion, who is with The Stallion Company, through his Horse Scout Stallion Listing by clicking this link – Royaldik on Horse Scout
Abigail Hutton, International Dressage Rider based in Oxfordshire
Since arriving at Talland in 2009, Abigail’s rapid rise in the world of dressage has been nothing short of impressive. Here she talks to Horse Scout about her goals and tips for keeping competitive horses happy.
So that’s where you met your husband Charlie Hutton, Pammy’s son?
Yes, I arrived on a Sunday and met Charlie on the Tuesday and that was that!
How difficult did you find the transition to dressage and did Charlie help?
I had to play catch up and was given a schoolmistress, Amo, to start out competing at medium advanced! I had some crap scores, but some good ones too, and eventually rode Amo to Inter 2 and in two regional championships. That opened up the doors to take on more rides.
Charlie is a huge help and I train frequently with him — he is brutally honest with me!
Do you train with anyone else?
I have regular sessions with Carl Hester and sometimes with my mother-in-law Pammy Hutton.
What do you struggle with most?
I guess I struggled with my seat and posture as I hadn’t ridden from a young age and i’m a natural sloucher. Putting your neck in back collar really makes you sit up. Also, I had a long battle with competition nerves and I just found that just going out more and more really helped. I’m going to start pilates too.
What are your career highlights over the last year or so?
I’ve ridden at three National Championships and represented Ireland at Hartpury, Hickstead and Saumur CDIs in 2015. I also placed in the top five at Hickstead International with Armagnac and had a win at Keysoe Premier League with my young horse, Giraldo, owned by Lotty Chatterton.
Tell us about your other top horses?
I have another 12-year-old horse called Don Dino, a 17.1hh Hanovarian gelding, which belonged to Charlie but as he has kissing spine the vet suggested he should have a lighter rider. He’s really talented and we have qualified for the Nationals at advanced medium.
Then there’s Starlet Blue, a nine-year-old mare owned by Judy Peploe. She’s premium graded in Germany but very inexperienced so we’re competing at novice and elementary.
I also ride Giraldo, a really special five-year-old gelding owned by Lotty Chatterton. I’m off to Hickstead young horse champs with him (national and international class). He has been getting 80% scores and has a really amazing big uphill balanced canter and is really adjustable. And his brain and attitude… I’ve never known anything like it — he just loves to work!
What tips would you give to other riders?
Train hard but don’t take it too seriously — it has to be fun.
Most riders put too much pressure on themselves and their horses but that can make things worse. If you get a bad mark, it can only get better! And if you’re having a bad day when you’re schooling, just go for a canter.
What are your goals?
To keep riding for a living, have happy horses and have fun.
Of course I’d also like to win a national title, go on international big tour and ultimately ride for the Irish team at the Olympics.
Any tips to help keep horses sound and happy?
Horses thrive on routine but don’t be afraid to experiment. Some of my horses do a couple of days dressage, then a hack on Wednesday, then dressage again and have the weekend off. Others have a jump day or a canter day in the middle and Dino only does dressage twice a week — he hacks and canters the rest.
Be patient and take note of what makes your horse feel the best, but don’t worry about breaking it every once in a while — sometimes routine may alter for a show so you need to be relaxed about it!
I’m also a serious fan of getting your stirrups up and working in a light seat to get your horse forward and loose in the back — it’s also great fun! Dressage horses are being bred with so much power and energy now, I think you have to be up for a bit of adrenaline to keep them fresh in their minds and entertained. I also take Giraldo to the water treadmill once a week. (see our blog about Hydrotherapy)
Why Horse Scout?
It looks professional and is it’s clever how horses and riders connect and how you can see the history of a horse and who used to ride it. I also like the fact that there are some great horses for sale but many at realistic prices.
Abi Hutton – Senior Instructor and Rider
Talland School of Equitation
Images provided by “Judy” of Abi Hutton competing
Horse Scout Loves Abi Huttons’ great sense of humour
images provided by Judy Peploe
Find out more about Abigail Hutton on Horse Scout
Abi Hutton has a profile on Horse Scouts’ Professional Rider Pages which goes into detail about her career and what she can offer you. It also has some lovely photos; click through and follow Abigail Hutton on Horse Scout.
Naunton, England, with our Horse Scout reporter before setting off for the week of her life
International Event Rider , Kathryn Robinson, talks to Horse Scout about her career and her tips for buying an event horse
What are your biggest achievements?
Being chosen to represent my country (I was born in Canada and my mother is Canadian) and ride in the Olympics at Rio. I was travelling as reserve but due to a horse being lame, I’m now part of the team.
I was short-listed for London 2012 and in 2014 was selected for the WEG but was unable to compete because of a technical hitch with the paperwork. I’ve placed 7th at Pau four-star.
Tell us about your top horse, Let it Bee, who you’ll be riding for Canada in South America.
He’s a 15-year old German-bred gelding by Lamerto out of Baroness. I got him as a 7-year old from a guy that had bought him from an auction but was fed up as he had started to stick his tongue out. If I looked at him now I would never buy him — he’s so long, hence his nickname Limousine — and not put together to be a top event horse. But I bought him to do some pre novices to get my confidence back and just kept going. His best discipline is dressage and although he can be a bit hot at a one-day event, he’s very good at a three day and has been extremely consistent this year.
And you rode at Badminton for the first time earlier this year?
Yes, my aim was to complete, which I did with a double clear. I wasn’t the quickest cross country but I didn’t want to over phase him.
How did you get into eventing?
I didn’t grow up in a horsey family but I always loved them and belonged to the local pony club as a teenager. I stopped riding around the age of 16 and then didn’t take it up again until my 20s when I became a working pupil Samantha Albert, a Canadian-born eventer who rides for Jamaica.
She found me my first event horse, Hugo Simon, and I ended up doing quote well on him, competing in one and two stars and coming second at a one star in Portugal.
Who else would you say has been influential?
My fiancee Giovani Ugolotti (the Italian event rider) as he really helped me regain my confidence after losing Hugo. Gio’s my best coach — always honest and no, we don’t argue that much as neither of us can be bothered! We also both visit Henriette Anderson for dressage.
Tell us about some of your other horses.
Suttogo Georg is a 7-year-old, German-bred ex-show jumper who is nippy, spooky but a really good jumper. His weakest link is dressage but he’s not naughty, he’s just never been taught and I hope that will fall into place by next year and we can move up the grades.
I have another 7-year-old called Linus, a 6-year-old named Calling Card and a four-year old called Castello.
And they are all German?
Yes, I like the German horses and we have a good agent out there who I trust and has good eye.
So what would your advice be for others when buying a horse; particularly an event horse?
Go with someone you trust and who can be helpful with regards to the breeding.
Some great stallions produce very nice young horses but they don’t all go on to be a top event horse — look at those with good competition records.
And do you favour any bloodlines?
Linus and Calling Card are by Heraldic — but as he is so old it’s impossible to find them anymore.
We have three in the yard by Duke of Hearts. I just gave the ride on Duke of Champion to Gio… he just grew so big that I felt I couldn’t physically help him show jumping. Gio is pleased… he just got a 6-year-old at novice!
What single thing has changed your riding for the better?
I’ve always suffered from nerves and can freeze at a competition. This year I’ve seen two sports psychologists and they’ve been really helpful giving me exercises to stay focused — it has literally transformed my performance.
And next year is a big year… your wedding to Giovanni. Is it all organised?
The venue is… it’s at my parent’s house. Other than that, the only thing I’ve done is buy the dress! And we’re also going to have to have a mini honeymoon as the date is in the middle of the eventing season!
Kathryn Robinson has a professional Rider profile page on Horse Scout. Click through and see her horses and read about her career as a professional Event rider and trainer.
Giovanni Ugolotti the Italian Event Rider, Gloucestershire, 33
The international event rider talks to Horse Scout about his top horses, his favourite bloodline and what makes a good event horse.
Tell us about your top horse Oplitas.
He’s a 15-year old, 17hh bay gelding by the thoroughbred Fines, and out of the Hanoverian Golf I mare, Berganza, full brother of Armada and Nereo.(see our blog about these two fabulous horses)
I’ve had him four years now (he was formerly produced and ridden by Andrew Nicolson) and he is really good cross country. He is quite sensitive and, although perhaps naturally a girl’s ride, I get on well with him — but you need to be on the right side of him! He is quite grumpy in his stable, stroppy about being groomed, doesn’t like attention and is happiest in the field!
So Oplitas clearly has good breeding — do you think that’s essential in an event horse?
I always look at the percentage of blood. For me, a 4-star eventer has to have about 65%-70% thoroughbred — and the brain to want to do the job… For something less serious you don’t need as much blood.
So do you have a favourite blood line?
At the moment I like the German thoroughbred, Duke of Hearts, and I have three of its offspring in the yard. They have enough blood to be a proper event horses, good brains to be trainable and they are good jumpers too.
What are your top tips when buying an event horse, other than its bloodline?
You can look at a video of them — they have to be well put together — but at the end of the day you need to sit on them and feel them. And they must have a good (trainable) brain.
Tell us about some of your other top horses.
He’s been off a year following a bone chip to his stifle, but we have started bringing Stilo Kontika (Condios/Blue Labamba) back into work and hope to start competing him in the autumn. He was ranked best horse for the Italian team in 2014, placed 5th at a CCI 3star and took me to my first Europeans in Malmo (double clear). He is really strong — and sometimes is a struggle to hold him cross country! Then there’s DaCapo 277, a 17hh, 10-year old gelding out of Duke of Hearts XX. He did his first advanced at Little Downham in June and he will be my best on the flat and a really good jumper.
So, Giovanni Ugolotti How/why did you become a professional rider?
I began riding at around six but it wasn’t until I joined the army at around 18 or 19 that my professional career with horses really began. I had planned to stay for one year but ended staying for six. Most of my training came from there, we were riding a lot of young horses up to advanced level. I’m lucky that my job is my passion.
You’re engaged to fellow Olympic event rider Kathryn Robinson (Olympic rider for Canada). Tell us about your partnership and are you competitive with each other?
We sometimes have arguments but it’s great having someone to keep an eye on you every day. We are competitive but we push each other to do better. Kathryn would say my strengths are that I’m calm, collected and focused on job in hand. For me, I admire her patience. Our wedding is planned for next year.
Do you train with anyone else?
Once a week we train dressage with Henriette Anderson – 20 mins away from Cranford Stud.
So what’s your weekly schedule for the horses in competition?
We school on the flat twice a week, jump once, take the young ones cross country a week before an event and the good ones will go up the gallops every four days. They’ll all get a day off the day after a competition, then I’ll lunge them the day after that, normally in a pessoa.
And what’s the best tip you’ve ever been given?
That if you keep training and believing that what you do is right, the result will come eventually.
Innovation… when you look for a horse that you want to buy, you can enter all your criteria, listing everything from its height to the level it’s at… You can also network and promote yourself as a rider.
Giovanni has an amazing track record and has horses for sale from his yard in Gloucestershire listed on his Horse Scout Profile Contessa V is one of them. If you are looking for a Stunning black 16’2″ mare who is just 7 years old this Hanovarian by Conteur out of a Medoc mare is described as ‘delightful’ and ‘very easy to do’. This horse already has 24 foundations points and has been ridden by an 18 year old.
