Northern Horse Magazine – March 2026

Summary

Northern Horse Magazine's March 2026 issue (Number 125) leads on Holcombe Harriers' Valentine's Day Meet near Manchester, photographed by Alan Jackson, before previewing the five-star MARS Badminton Horse Trials and four northern grassroots riders heading to the LeMieux Championships.

Issue 125 of Northern Horse Magazine, dated March 2026, puts the Holcombe Harriers' Valentine's Ride across Astley Moss in Greater Manchester on the cover, shot through with sunshine and optional fences. Across its pages the Stockport-based regional title covers Cockshot's first affiliated dressage of 2026, the Icelandic horse breed and its five gaits, plus a step-by-step return-to-work programme for competition horses after a winter layoff. Local riding clubs from Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire receive generous coverage, with show reports and 2026 fixture lists dominating the second half of the magazine.

Eventing readers get a clear route into the May calendar: profiles of Amy Dixon on Goodluck II, Amy Osborne on D'Lux Fireball, Charlie Wells taking both Win Over Clover and Castlesize Empress, and Tilly Ward on Cymros Oh Goly Gosh, plus the new British Eventing Festival of Youth at Bishop Burton College locked in from 2026 to 2031. The Icelandic Horse feature examines tolt and flying pace, while Hannah Gardner's Lakes & Dales column maps a six-mile Askham Fell ride with parking What3Words and accommodation notes. The grooming career guide names Myerscough, Bishop Burton and Stubbing Court as northern training hubs.

The opinion column on the future of affiliated showing takes a side: after four days at the STARS Champion of Champions at Aintree Racecourse in November 2025, the editors argue transparency must lead judging practice, not the marks system. News shorts cover the new Veteran Horse Society HOYS championship and the EVJ Special Focus issue on equine infectious disease, free to view for 12 weeks. Advertisement density runs at roughly a third of the magazine, mostly riding-club fixtures and trainer cards.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story & Hunting

p.48 · Holcombe Harriers Valentine's Ride

Marks Valentine's weekend with the annual ride held Saturday 14 February 2026, based at the Grundy Lancaster family's land around Astley Moss near Manchester. Riders could pick optional jumps or bypass them, with prizes for Best Turned Out Couple plus Senior and Junior categories. The piece sits inside Hounds in the Community Week (15-22 February), and the kennels host educational visits from Bury Young Farmers and Lancashire community groups. Takeaway: contact the hunt if your group wants a kennels visit, and follow the Countryside Alliance campaign link for the trail-hunting debate.

p.48 · Hounds for Heroes Fundraising Events

Documents Penny Pleasant BHSAI's charity showjumping day at Osbaldeston Equestrian Centre in Lancashire, where she has now raised 7,770 pounds for Hounds for Heroes, which provides assistance dogs to injured UK Armed Forces and emergency services personnel. Eleven-year-old Esmae, ten-year-old Oscar with his Dartmoor Silver, and Jessica Bailey with Chance describe Penny's ring-side coaching and the inclusive cross-pole format. Takeaway: book the Easter Bunny Show Jumping event in April 2026 through Penny's BeHorse Savvy clinics at Thompson House, Croft Top and Kelsall Hill.

▸ Badminton & Eventing 2026

p.12 · The Journey to Badminton Grassroots Riders in the Spotlight

Profiles four northern riders qualified for the LeMieux Grassroots Championships at Badminton on 5-6 May 2026: Cumbria's Amy Dixon on Goodluck II (a 2010 and 2023 winner), Whitby's Amy Osborne on D'Lux Fireball, Charlie Wells from Honley taking both Win Over Clover and Castlesize Empress, and Cumbria's Tilly Ward on Cymros Oh Goly Gosh. Read for qualification routes via Scone Palace and Frickley, plus training-week juggling with A-levels and night shifts. Takeaway: Tuesday 5 May entry is free at the Grassroots site; the Wednesday shopify needs MARS Badminton tickets.

p.21 · MARS Badminton Horse Trials

Previews the five-star event running 6-10 May 2026 with a course update from designer Eric Winter, Kelvin Bywater shaping the show jumping phase and James Willis on the LeMieux Grassroots tracks. Extensive drainage work means the ground is not waterlogged after a record-wet winter, and prize money has risen for both the Mars Equestrian International and the LeMieux Grassroots. Takeaway: buy early-bird tickets before 31 March 2026, and note the Stallion Display after Friday's dressage plus the Shetland Pony Grand National on Saturday at 10.30am.

p.21 · BE launch Festival of Youth at Bishop Burton College

Announces British Eventing's new flagship youth championship, locked in for Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire from 2026 through 2031 and built around The Pony Club Open Championship plus a BEv Pony Club 100 National Friendly Team Competition. CEO Rosie Williams and Head of Youth Darrell Scaife frame it as a week-long learning pathway for riders under 21. Takeaway: 2026 classes include National Junior CCIJ2*-S, National Pony CCIP2*-S, Regional Team Championships at CCIJ2*-S and 100L, U18 90L, U21 CCI2*-S and U21 100L.

▸ Dressage & Showing

p.4 · Cockshot Affiliated Dressage

Reports Cockshot's first affiliated competition of 2026, judged by Sandra Edwards on 24 January. Ellie Hall and her 19-year-old Irish cob The Storyteller took Prelim 4 on 71.25% and Prelim 5 on 73.57%, marking Button's return from a 2024 injury. Eve Bagley won Novice 4 on H A Mont Brilliant, Eliza Cocking took Elementary 4 on Diamond Bertha, and Jodie Frost on Lucas won Medium 3. Takeaway: photographer Shaz Stanley holds the full set of images via shazstanley.co.uk for anyone who missed the day.

p.44 · The Future of Affiliated Showing?

An opinion column comparing four days at the STARS Champion of Champions at Aintree Racecourse in November 2025 against affiliated showing. Forty-two strictly amateur-only classes ran under panel judges eligible for HOYS, livestreamed by Horse and Country TV, with the Mountain and Moorland Lead Rein class drawing 77 entries. The editors argue that judging consistency and transparency, not the marks system, will decide whether affiliated showing retains grassroots support. Takeaway: ring stewards and commentators at Aintree set the standard affiliated qualifiers should match.

▸ Features: Health, Heritage & Career

p.28 · Bringing Competition Horses Back into Work After a Winter Break

Antonia Milner BVetMed BSc CertAVP MRCVS of Summerleaze Equine Vets lays out a progressive return-to-work schedule for horses after a winter layoff, starting with long active walking before introducing short trot periods, then layering intensity, terrain and incline. She flags physiotherapy, farriery and tack-fit reviews before escalating work, and reminds riders to watch for subtle movement and attitude changes. Takeaway: extend duration before intensity, and book the farrier and physio before the first canter session, not after a setback.

p.24 · Discovering the World of the Icelandic Horse

Introduces the new 32-minute EidfaxiTV film following four international riders who travel to Iceland to learn the tolt on native horse farms, plus the breed's Viking ancestry, its disease-free status under Iceland's biosecurity regime, the five gaits (walk, trot, canter, tolt, flying pace) and the DMRT3 gene that governs lateral movement. Takeaway: stream the English-subtitled version at eidfaxitv.is, and read about the September-October rettir roundups before booking a summer riding tour through the Highlands.

p.30 · Lakes & Dales Horseback Rambler – Askham Fell Into Ride, Eastern Fells

Hannah Gardner plots a six-mile ride from Askham Hall car park near Penrith, through Whale Farm, across the upgraded Helton bridge with new mounting blocks since March 2025 and on to the open fell with views of Ullswater. Native Fell ponies, sheep and cattle graze the common, so riders are advised to give them a wide berth. Takeaway: park at Askham Hall (What3Words uttering.strutted.dentures) or the Lowther Estate river car park, and find the route as a public route on OS Maps.

p.38 · So You Want to Be a Groom?

A career guide covering competition, race, stud, riding school, polo and driving groom paths, plus pay, accommodation perks and progression to Head Groom, Assistant Trainer or yard manager. Northern training routes named include Stubbing Court Training, Bishop Burton College, Myerscough College, the British Racing School at Newmarket and the National Horseracing College at Doncaster. Takeaway: the British Grooms Association is the central hub for insurance, jobs and CPD, and an apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn.

p.55 · The Veteran Horse Society Ridden Veteran of the Year Championship 2026 at HOYS

Announces the new HOYS class for 2026, sponsored by the Veteran Horse Society and restricted to horses aged 15 and over, with ten UK qualifiers feeding the October final in the Andrews Bowen International Arena. Founder Julianne Aston calls it a chance to open the HOYS curtains to the world of the older equine. Competitors need Full VHS Membership plus a VHS/HOYS Showing Card. Takeaway: check the updated 2026 welfare rules on show counts and travel distance on the VHS website before entering a qualifier.

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Editor's Take

The standout is the Badminton grassroots quartet on pages 12-21: Amy Dixon's record, Charlie Wells's mares turning 4 May at the venue, and Tilly Ward juggling A-levels give this issue real heart. Antonia Milner's winter return-to-work programme and the Icelandic Horse feature are both substantive enough to clip and save, and the Aintree STARS column asks an overdue question about judging transparency. The downsides are real: more than half the magazine is regional club round-ups, ride adverts and image credits, and the cover story reads more like a Countryside Alliance press release than journalism. Buy it for the Badminton preview and the grooming career guide; skim the riding-club pages if you only want news.

Strengths
• Detailed Badminton preview with four northern grassroots riders heading to the LeMieux Championships
• Antonia Milner's winter fitness return-to-work plan is genuinely actionable
• Strong regional coverage of northern riding clubs, shows and presentation evenings

Weaknesses
• Cover story reads more like a Countryside Alliance press release than journalism
• Heavy on club adverts, fixture lists and image credits between editorial pages

Verdict: Recommended — Grassroots-eventing preview and equine-career guide earn the cover price; club filler drags the rest.