Northern Horse Magazine – April 2026

Summary

Northern Horse Magazine April 2026 (Issue 126) puts Lizzie Howard with Tibon Tequilla Sunrise on the cover, competing at the Wyre & District RC Show in a Bobby Jo Imaging photograph. Editor Barry Reynolds fills the issue with northern dressage, showing and eventing results.

Abram Hall Riding Club's March dressage on Saturday 7 March ran from Intro 4 to Novice level, with official photographer Alan Jackson. Lacey Jones won Intro 4 Juniors on Miss Dolly with 73.46%, Amber Watkinson took Intro 4 Seniors on Farborn Enchantress with 73.85%, and Teegan Macdonald won Prelim 1 Juniors on Powys Valley Dino with 74.2%. Kathryn Anders won Novice 2 Seniors on Ameratzo with 65.91%.

Cockshot Dressage Centre ran its unaffiliated league championship on 21 and 22 February 2026, with Amber Blackmore winning the Senior Novice League Championship on Vancefords Rafaella and Freya Smith taking Senior Elementary on Forrests Snowcloud. Features cover laminitis, TREC, blocked bridleways, the Murgese Horse and jumping focus.

—————

Content Guide

▸ Dressage Reports

Abram Hall Riding Club — March Dressage
Abram Hall's March dressage ran on Saturday 7 March, testing from Intro 4 to Novice level across junior and senior sections with Alan Jackson as official photographer. Lacey Jones won Intro 4 Juniors on Miss Dolly with 73.46%, ahead of Alexis Harwood on Ralphson King Charles with 62.12%. Amber Blackmore's name appears in the Cockshot results, but Amber Watkinson won Intro 4 Seniors here on Farborn Enchantress with 73.85%. Enter Abram Hall's next date if you want a mark above 73 this spring.

Cockshot Dressage Centre — League Championship
Cockshot ran its unaffiliated league championship dressage on 21 and 22 February 2026, with unaffiliated classes, Quest competitions and affiliated dressage from lead rein up to Prix St Georges. Olivia Georgeson won the Junior Prelim League Championship on Lunn Dubh, and the same pony took the Junior Novice title. Amber Blackmore won the Senior Novice League Championship on Vancefords Rafaella, with Kate Hargreaves second on Harley X11. Enter Cockshot's league before the next championship closes.

Cockshot — unaffiliated classes
Phoebe Brewster won lead rein on Rodney with 70.75%, ahead of Freya Brewster on the same pony with 67%. Elsie Katz took Intro 2 Juniors on Sliveve Danny with 70%, and Abigail Rowland won Intro 3 Seniors on Klassic Baritone with 70.23%. Emily Ryan won Prelim 3 Seniors on Gladys with 69.79% and Novice 2 Seniors on the same pony with 68.85%. Compare your own percentages with these before entering the next league round.

▸ Features

Veterinary Advice on Laminitis
The veterinary advice column covers laminitis, the spring risk every northern owner watches. Laminitis starts in the foot long before a pony looks lame. Weigh tape your pony this week and act on the number.

Welcome to TREC
TREC gets an introduction for readers wanting a new discipline. TREC suits riders who like orienteering as much as jumping. Ask your riding club whether it runs TREC training.

When a Bridleway is Blocked
This feature covers what to do when a bridleway is blocked, a real problem on northern routes. Blocked rights of way need reporting, not just detouring. Photograph the obstruction and report it to the county council.

The Murgese Horse
The breed feature introduces the Murgese Horse. Breed pages are where readers meet something new. Compare the Murgese's needs with your own grazing before looking at one.

▸ Events and Campaigns

Spotlight on Local Riding Clubs
The riding club spotlight opens the events section, naming the clubs that keep the region riding. Clubs are the cheapest route into competing for most riders. Join one local club this month rather than entering alone.

BHS Dead Slow Campaign
The BHS Dead Slow campaign gets a page in the events listing. Road safety is the campaign most riders will actually use. Slow to a walk and thank every driver who passes wide.

HAPPA in Crisis
HAPPA in crisis is reported in the events pages, giving the welfare story a place in a results-heavy issue. Welfare news belongs beside show results, not after them. Check HAPPA's appeal before you donate elsewhere.

—————

Editor's Take

The results are the backbone of Northern Horse Magazine April 2026, and Abram Hall's March dressage with Lacey Jones on 73.46% and Teegan Macdonald on 74.2%, plus Cockshot's championship across lead rein to Prix St Georges, is exactly what a regional title should print. The bridleway feature is the most useful non-results page, because blocked routes are a daily problem and the advice to report them is concrete. Weakest is the cover: Lizzie Howard and Tibon Tequilla Sunrise are a fine pairing, but the Bobby Jo Imaging photograph tells you nothing the results do not. The Trump Turnberry Scottish travel advertising runs heavily through the issue. Buy this if you compete in the North; riders elsewhere will find the results too local.

Strengths
• Abram Hall and Cockshot results name horses and scores
• Bridleway feature tells readers to report obstructions
• TREC and Murgese pages widen the issue's range
• Dead Slow campaign gets real coverage

Weaknesses
• Cover photograph adds nothing to the results
• Trump Turnberry travel advertising runs heavily

Verdict: Selective read — essential for northern competitors, local for everyone else.