Horse Hound – 23 December 2025

Summary

Horse & Hound 23 December 2025 (Volume CXLII, Issue 52) leads with "He's so brave" — Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z clearing 7ft 3in — plus Dujardin returns and Fry wins, photographed by Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves.

The London International dressage at ExCeL is the cover's real story: Lottie Fry and Glamourdale, "Glammy," won with a flawless round for their third London title, Charlotte Dujardin returned to finish second in the grand prix, and Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, "Bomb," brought the house down with Christmas music.

The news pages carry the hardest figures: Pembrokeshire riding school licence fees up to £1,112 plus about £300 vet fees, against £352 in Bridgend, and BHS chief operating officer Sarah Phillips noting more than 300 UK riding schools have closed since 2018. British Eventing posted a deficit and plans £176,000 of 2026 savings.

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Content Guide

▸ London International

p.46 · Glamourdale flies to victory — Sarah Jenkins
At ExCeL in London, Lottie Fry and Glamourdale, known as "Glammy," won with a flawless round, their third London victory, and Lottie's charming airline-inspired music earned applause. Charlotte Dujardin returned in her highest-profile appearance since her comeback, as immaculate as ever in the grand prix for second place, with errors in the freestyle of the sort expected from a less experienced mare. The loudest cheer of the night went to Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, "Bomb," with music made specially for London: as Noddy Holder shouted "It's Christmas!", Bomb tore up the centre line towards judge Peter Storr at C. A third London title is the number that defines the night. Watch one freestyle before you judge the music.

p.52 · Proudley sets a new record
Rachel Proudley set a new record in the puissance and the early showjumping classes, the cover's 7ft 3in clear with Easy Boy De Laubry Z. Puissance records are the result a festive issue remembers. Read the report before the next international show.

▸ News

p.4 · Tackling riding school licence fee variation
Pembrokeshire County Council charges up to 10 horses £583, 11 to 30 £766.50 and over 30 £1,112 a year, plus about £300 in vet fees. A report said licensed businesses typically charge about £80 for a two-hour lesson, and a larger riding establishment running three groups of 30 riders three times a day at weekends could take £7,200 a day. Councillor Huw Murphy called the £7,200 figure "inaccurate" and it was later withdrawn. Neighbouring authorities charge £570 in Ceredigion and £600 in Carmarthenshire for up to 10 horses, but Carmarthenshire's up to 10 horses with vet fees is £408, Ceredigion's initial 6 to 15 horses is £370, and Bridgend is £352 for all centres with vet fees. Anita Buxton, with 16 horses at a trekking centre open October to March, pays Pembrokeshire £1,127.26 — £766.50 plus £360 vet fees — where two miles away in Carmarthenshire she would pay £423. She says costs have more than doubled in nine years while business has fallen. BHS chief operating officer Sarah Phillips says more than 300 UK riding schools have closed since 2018. Commissioner Jacob Williams says it returns in January, after the committee meeting on 25 November and full council on 12 December. A two-mile move saving £704 is the number that shows how broken the system is. Check your own centre's licence fee before the next renewal.

p.5 · Measures taken to protect eventing — Pippa Roome
British Eventing ran an operating deficit and plans £176,000 of savings in 2026 without reducing safety or value. In 2024 the deficit was £13,000, against a £175,000 surplus in 2023, and 2025 was also a deficit. Finance director Wayne Schofield blames falling membership and horse registrations plus rising insurance costs. BE remains solvent, with £561,000 cash at the end of 2024, down £97,000 on 2023, and membership and event levies rise in 2026. The AGM is on 16 December. Business strategy manager Jenny Clark is named, and former BE chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith asked whether BE is embracing the unaffiliated market; the response cites work with the Pony Club and riding clubs on collaboration and unity. A £176,000 saving is the number members should hold BE to. Read the AGM notes before you renew.

p.6 · Horse world feeling the pinch
The horse world feels financial pressure. Cost is the story behind every other story this year. Check one cost you have not reviewed since spring.

p.8 · Boosting access to off-road riding
Off-road riding access is being improved. Access is the sport's real constraint. Find one new off-road route near you this month.

▸ Opinion

p.12 · Letters of the week
Reader letters run here. Letters are where a magazine's community shows. Send one letter this week.

p.14 · Dressage — Carl Hester
Carl Hester writes the dressage column, carrying unpublished memories of Valegro. Hester on Valegro is the voice the sport listens to. Read it before the year ends.

▸ People and Horses

p.16 · H&H interview — Ian Cassells
Irish eventing European team silver medallist Ian Cassells is interviewed, with the picture note "Ian Cassells and Master Point at Badminton." Silver medallists are the interviews riders learn most from. Read one before the next championship.

p.20 · All in a day's work — The champion farrier
The champion farrier is profiled. Farriers are the trade the sport cannot run without. Thank yours before Christmas.

p.66 · Goodnight — Tessa Waugh's hunting diary
Tessa Waugh closes with her hunting diary. Her diary is the most honest writing in the issue. Read it last, as the editor intends.

▸ Health, Property and Kit

p.22 · Behind the scenes — Caring for racehorses during the festive period
The vet clinic goes behind the scenes on racehorse care over Christmas. Holiday care is the shift nobody plans properly. Check one yard's Christmas rota this week.

p.26 · Style and substance — Attractive homes with much to offer
Property pages. Property tells you who a magazine thinks its readers are. Compare one property's facilities with your own yard.

p.27 · Winter warriors — Gloves to keep the cold out
Winter gloves are tested. Cold hands end more winter rides than bad weather. Replace one pair of gloves this week.

▸ Cover Stories and Features

p.28 · The big quiz — Test your friends and family over the festive break
The festive quiz. Quizzes are the page a Christmas issue is bought for. Run one quiz at your yard this week.

p.34 · Inside Velvet — Filming International Velvet
Filming International Velvet is revisited, with the top riders who appeared in it. Film history is the lightest, most shareable page. Watch one clip before you read it.

p.38 · Higgs, lows and glory days — H&H's experts review the year in sport
The experts review the year in sport. Year reviews are why a December issue is kept. Name your own horse of the year before reading theirs.

▸ Hunting, Reports and Advertising

p.56 · 'Dicker's Dogs' — Out with the Rockview Harriers
The Rockview Harriers report. Harrier days are the hunting closest to foot followers. Read it before planning a meet.

p.58 · Marvellous mayhem — Hunt balls
Hunt balls are covered. Balls are the social season's real event. Book one before the season ends.

p.62 · Classified ads
Horseboxes and more. Classifieds are where horses change hands. Read one advert before you answer it.

Baileys Senior Soft & Lite
Baileys Horse Feeds advertises Senior Soft & Lite for the 2025-2026 winter: a low-calorie mix that hides medication, low in starch and sugar, high in fibre and molasses-free, with nettle to support immunity, pre-, pro- and postbiotics for gut health, and linseed and soya oil for coat and shine, fed as a mash or damp feed, for the veteran good-doer, the fussy feeder and the horse with poor teeth. Winter feeding claims are not evidence on their own. Ask your vet before you change any veteran's feed.

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Editor's Take

The licence fee report is the reason Horse & Hound 23 December 2025 matters: Pembrokeshire at £1,112 plus about £300 of vet fees against £352 in Bridgend, Anita Buxton paying £1,127.26 where two miles away she would pay £423, and more than 300 riding schools closed since 2018 is a story where the numbers make the argument by themselves. British Eventing's £176,000 of planned savings, a £13,000 deficit in 2024 against a £175,000 surplus in 2023, and £561,000 cash at the end of 2024 is governance reported plainly. The London International page is the best read, with Fry and Glamourdale's flawless third London win, Dujardin's second in the grand prix, and Bomb running up the centre line as Noddy Holder shouts "It's Christmas!". Weakest is that the source is cover, contents and three news stories only, so the quiz, the Velvet film, the year review and all the reports are titles with no body text. Buy this for the licence fees and the London report; the festive features are a contents page.

Strengths
• Licence fees give £1,112, £352, £1,127.26 and £423
• More than 300 schools closed since 2018
• BE gives £176,000, £13,000, £175,000 and £561,000
• London gives a third title, second and the Bomb story

Weaknesses
• Festive features have no body text
• Quiz, Velvet and year review unquoted
• Reports and property pages are titles only

Verdict: Recommended — the licence fees and London International.