The Hoofbeat Chronicles
I know I am not the only one being sick and tired of hearing and reading about equestrians abusing animals and or people. In the land down under, in Australia, dressage rider and eventer Heath Ryan has been suspended for alleged horse abuse. First of all I cannot see how
Global News
Ireland welcomes a new horse auction: the online StrideHorse.Auction, taking place from June 17 to 20. The initiative comes from Ronan Rothwell of Boleybawn Horses in Wicklow. Rothwell has previously hosted online auctions featuring his own foals, broodmares and young showjumping horses, but has now expanded the concept. “After
Global News
Stephan Conter and Eric Berkhof have joined forces to acquire the iconic competition venue in Grimaud, located just outside Saint-Tropez, France. The site, which has been under judicial liquidation since 2024, is now being revitalised as a top equestrian destination. Their ambition? To transform it into a lively, international meeting
Global News
What started as a setback, turned into something extraordinary. When Jasper Doucé was just 14, his mare suffered an injury that ended her sport career. Together with his father, he decided to breed her, and they made a smart choice: Toulon, a stallion with an impressive record in international showjumping.
Global News
In what can only be described as a systemic failure of oversight, over 100 veterinary professionals working in Dutch clinics tied to the country’s three largest veterinary chain, AniCura, VetPartners, and IVC Evidensia, have been found operating without proper registration. The investigation, carried out by NOS and Omroep Brabant,
In this weekly Sunday edition you'll find anything from a selection of the news that's been published the past week, to personal thoughts and ideas. To read the Weekly Wrap Up you need to become a free member on the site.
Global News
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) is set to become the preferred airport for horse transport in the Netherlands through a new partnership with ECS Livestock, a specialist in equine air logistics. The collaboration is expected to significantly increase horse transport operations at MAA and also boost general cargo volumes at the
Italy has become the first country in the world to legally recognize the horse as an athlete. This groundbreaking change is part of a broader reform of the Italian sports system, introduced through Legislative Decree No. 36/2021 and later updated with Decree No. 163/2022, also known as the
The next generation of sport horses shouldn’t depend on whose logo is stitched onto the saddle pad. Until stallion stations treat every mare owner as a client worth impressing, the breeding world will remain a two‑tier market, premium service for the privileged, and pot‑luck for everyone else.
The current Schockemöhle/Helgstrand International Online Foal Auction comprises 15 top-quality offerings: seven dressage stallions and eight show jumping prospects. Of particular interest to talent scouts are likely the youngsters from first crops, such as the incredibly strong moving Pretty Severa OH (cat. no. 2), who is by the dressage
Team Italy were runaway winners of the Greek leg of the Longines EEF Nations Cup held in Thessaloniki, with some strong jumping performances from all four team members. After two rounds, Team Italy finished on a score of five penalties, well ahead of nearest rivals- Germany who were second on
The Flanders Foal Auction season includes five auctions featuring foals, and the first one of the year kicks off with an unique opportunity. For the first time, an Olympic mare will be auctioned on Saturday, June 14, immediately followed by her filly. The excitement continues with foals out of top
In this weekly Sunday edition you'll find anything from a selection of the news that's been published the past week, to personal thoughts and ideas. To read the Weekly Wrap Up you need to become a free member on the site.
On Tuesday evening, 27 May 2025, Zangersheide once again drew international attention with its Online Auction, known for offering young horses with sport-oriented pedigrees. Buyers from across the globe participated, including professionals and established stables looking to invest in future talent. The highest sale of the evening was the Levisto
Turns out, when you run veterinary care like a profit-obsessed machine like IVC Evidensia, people eventually get fed up and say no thanks. According to Dutch news outlet NRC, the biggest chain of veterinary clinics in the Netherlands, which happen to be IVC Evidensia, has had to shut down no
Talk about epic fail, but trying to move Hoofbeat Online to another platform was an epic fail! Two weeks in, I realised more than ever before what it was that made me leave that place in the first place. 1. The editor - that is a personal thing for me
For years, the conversation about eventing safety has circled around frangible pins, and how to avoid rotational falls. A new study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal looked at 110 verified horse fatalities in eventing between 1998 and 2023. Their findings show most of the horse fatalities didn’t happen
In this weekly Sunday edition you'll find anything from a selection of the news that's been published the past week, to personal thoughts and ideas. You can find all posts, and more, just by visiting the site.
I am the first one to admit to question the rock solid surfaces as seen [heard] during the showjumping indoor season. But the other day I stumbled across a complete army of trolls bashing a rider who posted a video of her trotting her horse on an asphalt road, give