Graham Fletcher shares his ideas on Stockholm Worldwide Horse Present, whip guidelines and ongoing Brexit points
After a lifetime of going to reveals world wide, it now takes one thing out of the unusual to impress me. Nonetheless, final month’s Stockholm Worldwide Horse Present did simply that. Our son Olli was invited as one of many 18 riders to compete there, and what an expertise it was.
The venue, the Nationwide Area of Sweden, also referred to as the Strawberry Area, is a implausible fashionable stadium and so they’d received the bottom pretty much as good as any I’ve come throughout. It’s an enormous stadium to fill. But it surely was filled with enthusiastic spectators who understood the game and actually confirmed their appreciation, particularly of their nation’s superstars Henrik von Eckermann, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, Peder Fredricson and the darling of the gang, Malin Baryard-Johnsson.
Actually, such was the ovation Peder obtained for his basic jump-off spherical within the grand prix, a soccer crowd couldn’t have made extra noise!
The present handled the riders very well. And I used to be happy with Olli’s outcomes as he greater than held his personal. It’s undoubtedly on the highest of his want listing to be invited once more in 2025.
New whip strategy
On the riders’ assembly earlier than the lessons began in Stockholm, the ambassador for the present, Malin Baryard-Johnsson, warned that Sweden’s nationwide guidelines on the whip have been extra proscriptive than the FEI ones.
Their rule stipulates that you may’t take your arms off the rein to make use of the whip. Malin additionally emphasised that the Swedish public is so delicate that any rider utilizing the stick in a forceful method can be requested to go dwelling.
So, do I feel the Swedes have gotten this one proper? Sure, I undoubtedly do. William Funnell (opinion, 28 November) was spot on when he stated we shouldn’t must apologise for the game we love. However any overuse of the stick, and we’re on the again foot already.
I caught up with former Nationwide Hunt champion jockey John Francome about it just lately. A few years in the past, he advocated {that a} stick ought to be stored within the arms to maintain a horse straight, however by no means used behind the saddle. He stays adamant about it.
John was probably the greatest jockeys of all time. Certainly, he was forward of his time in each his driving place and pondering within the saddle – simply as he was along with his philosophy about utilizing the stick.
John believes that if a “arms on the reins” whip rule was introduced in now, the perfect horses and jockeys would win extra. In the meantime, he stays very crucial of the individuals operating racing who allow horses to be hit seven occasions in a soar race and 6 occasions on the Flat.
There’s at the moment a survey below method to gauge opinion, one thing for which John has the identical quantity of respect as I do. If Winston Churchill had finished the identical, we’d all be talking German now.
If whip guidelines have been modified, says John, individuals would shortly overlook that the stick was ever used to try to bully half a tonne of horse. I feel he’s proper – and so are the Swedes.
We’re all cattle class now
I make no apology for bemoaning once more the equine welfare points – in addition to growing prices – of taking horses throughout the Channel since Brexit. Sadly, horses are nonetheless being compelled to attend round on lorries for border checks, even when the paperwork is all right and paid for.
It’s additionally an enormous drawback for individuals flying. It took us hour-and-a-half to get by way of passport management for a British Airways flight to Stockholm, as an alternative of what was once 20 minutes. It was the identical going to Brussels just lately.
There’s no person extra impatient than me in a queue. Actually, the one factor that stored me sane was the considered these MPs who campaigned for Brexit, after which misplaced their seats, having to journey cattle class and look ahead to hours like the remainder of us. Now they understand how the horses really feel…
● What do you concentrate on whip guidelines? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your title, nearest city and nation, for the possibility in your letter to seem in a forthcoming problem of the journal
You may additionally be all in favour of:
Spurs: helpful or pointless? Adam questions the general public’s notion of generally used extensions to a rider’s aids.
Credit score: Alamy Inventory Picture
Solely padded whips are allowed for the leaping phases at British Eventing competitions for the 2023 season.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Library picture
Credit score: Alamy Inventory Picture
Credit score: Alamy Inventory Picture
Credit score: Future
Keep in contact with all of the information within the run-up to and all through main reveals like London Worldwide and extra with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe as we speak for all it is advisable know forward of those main occasions, plus on-line stories on the motion because it occurs from our knowledgeable staff of reporters and in-depth evaluation in our particular commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Arrange your limitless web site entry now
