April is here and Spring is in the air, plants are blooming, birds are singing and Hooked on Horses is on the shelves!
Once again your favourite Essex equestrian monthly magazine has brought to you the latest goings on in Essex, with a magazine packed full of event reports, big interviews and those all important helpful columns, as well as lots of photos. Be sure to take a look and see who you can spot!
This month Abbey went down to Burrells Farm to meet Nigel Fuller the man who can turn his hand to anything it seems! Not only does Nigel balance a full time judge with looking after and competing his own horses, he also shows horses for other people and judges both internationally and nationally. Here is a sneak preview of what Nigel had to say…
…Judging duties have taken Nigel all over the world, to countries like South Africa to judge at the Gold Cup Show and Australia, to judge at the Triple Crown Championships, as well as all over England and Ireland. “Competitors sometimes have to travel up to three days to get to a show in Australia, add that to the expenses they have to pay, you see they are very committed, said Nigel before adding that despite this effort they sometimes don’t even get to do a individual show, as following an initial judging of approximately sixty horses, only twenty are chosen to go forward to the individual show. The organisers like to ask English judges to come over as we don’t know the horses and we ride them as part of the judging, whereas other judges don’t traditionally do this.”
We also caught up with regular columinist and Badminton bound eventer Maddie Taylor…
Dak was on top form, and went into the arena like he owned the place, he felt like he had really grown up and didn’t look at a single filler. I was thrilled to win the first class on Dak, which was the BE90; we won a Baileys rug, lots of vouchers a rosette and a sash – Dak was very pleased with himself and even smiled at the cameraman as he took a photo! During my lap of honour my brother Scottie shouted out ‘go faster!’ really loudly which was very embarrassing.
She has had a very busy month s have many of you! We have travelled ll over the county and beyond to get tons of pictures and show reports which can all be seen in this months magzine! Including;
Unaffiliated dressage at Runningwell EC
Shire Hill cross country
Essex and Suffolk PC hunter trial
Show jumping at Longwood EC
IBRC dressage at Writtle and cross country at Towerlands
Rawreth RC team jumping at Brook Farm TC
HOH dressage league qualifiers at Finchingfield EC
and many, MANY more!
We also have a great giveaway this month! Hooked on Horses has teamed up with fab new product HorseQuencher, which prevents dehydration in horses whilst you are competing! All you need to do to win is enter – it really is that simple.
Enjoy reading everyone.
The HoH Team
