Horse Hound – 28 May 2026

Summary

"Freak of nature" United Touch S with Richard Vogel fronts Horse & Hound 28 May 2026 (Volume CXLII Issue 21) under Incredible feats, a showjumping focus on horses and riders achieving near-impossible results. The cover notes they have won every five-star jump-off where they jumped clear.

Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jenkins gives readers two jobs: check your horse's flu vaccination status, and make your voice heard in the government's trail-hunting consultation. The flu numbers are the issue's hard core — 72 cases since the start of the year, 70 of them since April, reported in 37 countries.

British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping advised members to move to six-monthly vaccination. Claire Fielding's £300 fine over lorry tacho rules is the other news lead. Karin Donckers talks about 30 championships at p18, flies get product advice at p30, and Jubilee is the hunter of a lifetime at p60.

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Content Guide

▸ News

p.4 · Vaccination vital as more flu cases reported
The Cambridge veterinary school's equine infectious disease surveillance team confirmed 72 cases since the start of the year, 70 of them since April, reported in 37 countries. H&H reported on 14 May that EIDS urged vigilance on early clinical signs, up-to-date vaccination and isolation protocols for new arrivals, and BD, BE and BS have advised members to move to a six-monthly cycle, bringing boosters forward if the last was over six months ago. Vet Alan Hough of Celtic Equine Veterinary Practice said the narrative must change from having to vaccinate to compete, to vaccinating for welfare, and that flu is airborne and can travel three to five km in the right conditions, unlike strangles. EIDS's Hattie Bell said even a horse that never leaves the yard can be exposed. Check your horse's vaccination date today.

p.5 · Reminder of lorry tacho rules after rider fined £300
Event rider Claire Fielding was stopped on 14 May on the way to Aston le Walls and fined £300, having borrowed a 12-tonne HGV because her own lorry was being repaired; she was held on the A134 and missed her competition. DVSA confirmed vehicles over 3.5 tonnes carrying goods including horses by road need a tachograph, with an exemption below 7.5 tonnes for non-commercial carriage, and that taking part professionally or with sponsorship makes it commercial. Drivers must produce the day's record plus the past 28 days, or 56 days for EU journeys. Check your lorry's weight and whether your travel counts as commercial before you next load up.

▸ Cover Story

p.32 · Redefining what's possible — The showjumpers achieving amazing feats
Showjumping editor Jennifer Donald writes the cover feature, arguing that what looked impossible a decade ago is now routine. Richard Vogel believes no horse matches United Touch S's stride, and with his attitude it is unbeatable in a jump-off. Watch one five-star jump-off and count how few clear rounds there are.

p.16 · Showing — Nigel Hollings
Nigel Hollings writes the showing opinion column on this year's Royal Windsor, part of the issue's focus on an incredible era for showing. Opinion pages are better when the writer was actually ringside. Read him before you enter a Royal Windsor class.

p.46 · Showing — Balmoral, National Pony Society Area 25 and more
The showing cover report runs from Balmoral and National Pony Society Area 25. Scottish and area shows carry the sport outside the southern circuit. Enter one northern showing class this season.

▸ People and Horses

p.18 · H&H interview — Belgian event rider Karin Donckers on her 30 Championships
Karin Donckers is interviewed about her 30 championships, the longevity story of the issue. Thirty championships is a career most riders never approach. Ask what keeps a horse sound for that many seasons.

p.24 · In the spotlight — Flamboyant III, Hickstead Derby front runner
Flamboyant III gets the spotlight as a Hickstead Derby front runner. Derby horses are the ones whose form means something in May. Watch the Hickstead Derby and judge the front runner yourself.

p.60 · Hunter of a lifetime — Jubilee
Jubilee gets the hunting cover story. Named hunters carry the season's memory. Ask your hunt which horse it remembers most.

▸ Features and Regulars

p.30 · Fly-free zone — Summer sprays, fly repellents and insecticides
The summer fly feature rounds up sprays, repellents and insecticides. Flies spread disease as well as misery in late May. Put a fly mask on before turnout rather than after the first bite.

p.26 · Influenza alert — How to minimise risk as cases rise
The vet clinic follows the news lead with minimising flu risk as cases rise. Vaccination works best alongside isolation and biosecurity. Isolate any new arrival before it meets your own horses.

p.40 · Showjumping — Card, Wellington and more
Showjumping reports run from Card and Wellington, with eventing at Aston-le-Walls, Brechin Castle and Moreton Morrell, dressage at the Combined Training Championships and Merrist Wood, and point-to-point at the Welsh International. Check one report against your own entry plans.

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Editor's Take

The flu reporting is what makes Horse & Hound 28 May 2026 essential: 72 cases, 70 since April, 37 countries, and Alan Hough's point that flu travels three to five km while strangles does not is the clearest explanation of airborne risk any equestrian magazine has printed. Claire Fielding's £300 fine and the DVSA rules on 3.5 tonnes and 28 days are the practical twin. Weakest is the cover, where Incredible feats and "freak of nature United Touch S" is enthusiasm rather than reporting, and the showing section runs Balmoral and the NPS area show as short lists. The TopSpec advertising sits heavily beside the news. Buy this for the flu and tacho pages; the showjumping cover is secondary.

Strengths
• Flu gives 72 cases, 70 since April, 37 countries
• Hough explains three to five km airborne spread
• Tacho page gives £300, 3.5 tonnes and 28 days
• Karin Donckers's 30 championships is a real career

Weaknesses
• Cover is enthusiasm over reporting
• Showing reports run short

Verdict: Essential — the flu numbers and tacho rules justify the issue alone.