By Andrew Hoy

 

December – a time to consolidate, review and of course make plans for the coming year! 2014 has been a busy and very exciting year. The move to my new yard in Leicestershire, Somerby Stables, was very time consuming and a lot of hard work, but definitely worth it! My new facilities offer indoor and outdoor arenas, 32 Monarch stables, a horse walker, tracks to work on the hill and plenty of turnout for my horses, all in all a perfect training facility for my horses, students and myself.

 

Whilst the start of the 2015 competition season in the UK is still three months away, all of my horses are now back in full work and have started their preparations for the coming season. The ‘off season’ does finally allow me to catch up with plenty of office work, coaching my students and giving clinics, and to give you an insight and update on my main competition horses and plans for next year.

 

 

 

 

 

Rutherglen has finished his 2014 season at CCI4* Burghley and showed once again how much he has matured since being at the London Olympic Games as a nine year old, where he finished individual 13th with the best performance of the whole Australian team of the three disciplines -  eventing, dressage and showjumping.

 

Rutherglen had a fantastic dressage performance at Burghley, finishing 5th and only two marks off the lead after dressage and once again showed all his class on the cross country. Unfortunately he had gained a virus infection (generally spoken a ‘cold’) two weeks before Burghley, although my stable vet Neal Ashton and I assessed him daily up to the cross country day at Burghley and we were sure he was fit and well within himself but had to wait and see whether he was actually back to ‘4* fitness’. He started out fantastic on the cross country course but I could feel him getting tired and not feeling as fresh as he normally does. While everyone viewing my round on television was surprised when they saw me pulling up at the 8th minute marker after jumping so incredibly well, but I could feel this was the right thing to do. Rutherglen is the most wonderful horse who always tries so hard and he does not deserve having to continue a cross country round when he is not feeling 100%. After 20 minutes of walking back to the stables he arrived there very bright and fresh which confirmed to me that I had done the right thing. He since had an eight week holiday and enjoyed some time in the field and is now very motivated and can´t wait for the 2015 season.

 

I will be aiming him at CCI4* Badminton in the spring and CCI4* Burghley in the autumn and, based on his continuos development, I am very excited to take him back to ‘the big stage’ once again.

 

 

 

 

 

Cheeky Calimbo is, I believe, one of the most intelligent and talented horses in my yard. He is a very sensitive character and whilst he is not always easy in the competition ring he had some incredible performances so far, with the win of CIC3* Luhmühlen in 2014 being his most important win to date.

 

Cheeky´s owner, Mrs Christiane Classen, has been a long term supporter of mine and we have decided for Cheeky to go to CCI3* Montelibretti (Italy) in the spring and, provided everything will go well there, have his first CCI4* start at Luhmühlen later in the year. Fingers crossed!

 

 

 

 

 

Composer is clearly the most elegant horse on the yard. I bought Composer as a four year old at an Elite Auction in Holstein (Germany) and have been in love with him ever since. I have always believed in his outstanding talent and enormous scope and am thrilled he finished 2014 on a fantastic CCI2* result at Osberton Horse Trials. His owners, The Composer Syndicate and I will introduce him to the 3* level next year and hope to see him successfully stepping up to CCI4* in 2016. 

 

 

 

 

 

Lanfranco is probably the most extravagant horse in my team, equipped with plenty of talent and scope for the top level. While ‘Frank’ has gone through a difficult time before arriving at my yard I am very pleased with his development in the 2014 season, securing our first win together at intermediate level. I wanted to give him time to feel comfortable, get to know me and not feel under any pressure of having to perform. He has now settled in very well at the yard, feeling ‘at home’ and through my approach in his training, combined with a lot of patience, attention and care of my fantastic team of grooms, I feel he has mellowed a lot in his character.

 

Lanfranco will be 15 next year but is still very much a ‘high achiever’ and enjoying his daily training. Depending on his first competition starts in the spring, he will be aimed to compete at either 3* or 4* level in the first half of 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Sparrow is a six year old coloured Irish sport horse and arrived at my yard at the end of November. I first saw Jack, owned by international racing personality and dear friend Ms Barbara Keller, in August this year in Ireland. He has got a striking look and wonderful personality. He has been very carefully produced by Irish eventer Edie Murray-Hayden up to CIC1* level and I look forward to taking on the reins and the plans are to aim him at the World Championships for seven year old horses in Le Lion (France) at the end of next season. I am very excited about Jack joining my team of horses and have got very high hopes for the future for him.

 

 

 

 

Whilst I normally travel to Australia at this time of the year to spend Christmas with my family and friends, I will this year stay in the UK, continue the training of my horses and celebrate the first Christmas at my new home in Somerby, which I am very much looking forward to.

 

I would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and all the best for a healthy, happy and successful new year! Have a great year with your horses, enjoy your riding and never forget how lucky we are to have the company of these wonderful animals in our lives!

 

Until next time,

 

 

Andrew Hoy