Equine flu, upcoming events and trekking centre shuts
This week’s top stories
🐴 The equine flu outbreak is causing concern this week, with authorities and vets urging caution following a confirmed case in Wales: Read more →
🐎 A trekking centre on the Preseli Hills has announced it is closing. The "heartbreaking" decision is due to a rise in costs: Read more →
🏇 This amazing Powys endurance rider shows age is truly just a number, as she won the 80km ride at a top competition on her 20-year-old Anglo Arab. It's particularly impressive as the gelding had been written off at age 6 with navicular. And their preparation was thrown a spanner when he lost a shoe just hours before the ride: Read more →
🥇 Pembrokeshire's Sean Bowen has been named the best jump jockey in Britain: Read more →
🖤 A record-breaking Pembrokeshire shire horse, chosen to be the first mare ever to carry drums for the Royal House Cavalry, has died: Read more →
🎠 However the shire farm were still out in force for Barley Saturday in Cardigan: See more →
Events to look forward to
🏆 The highlight of the eventing calendar – Badminton Horse Trials – is upon us already. Very well done to all the Welsh equestrians who travelled to the home of eventing for the LeMieux Grassroots competition, we hope you were pleased with your round. Tell us how you got on: email natalie@walesequestrian.co.uk
⭐ Today the big guns get going in the five star event, and we wish enormous luck to North Wales-based Emily King, who is looking to beat last year's fantastic fifth place with her incredible partner Valmy Biats. Emily hasn't had the best preparation this year, however, after suffering a fractured rib and damage to her lung at the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park in early April.
🎯 Next week is the Windsor Horse Show, and among the Welsh competitors is a Welshpool pupil, in the Pony Club Games: Read more →
🎟️ Discounted tickets on sale now for the Royal Welsh Show. The 2026 show takes place from Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd July at Builth Wells: Tickets here →
Other interesting titbits
📺 Could you follow in the footsteps of North Wales rider Farrah and her horse Harold into reality equestrian TV? Horse & Country are looking for contestants for the next season of their All Stars Academy. Being filmed at Hartpury in August, the producers say they are looking for "horse and rider combinations who are working towards their dreams, are hungry for money-can't-buy training from some of the best in the game, can't wait to take part in fun challenges".
🏗️ There was mixed results for plans across Wales to build arenas. Retrospective plans for a Pembrokeshire menage have been allowed despite being on land of a quality which normally precludes development: Read more →
🏡 Meanwhile plans have been submitted to develop an indoor horse-riding area on the outskirts of Cardiff: See details →
🚫 And another horse arena plan has been refused: Read more →