Piggy March and Halo. Photo by Athalens.
Belsay Horse Trials is leveling up in 2026! After an impressively executed double-header this spring, including a pop-up CCI4*-S to replace Chatsworth, organizers have confirmed that Belsay will now permanently host international classes at CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, and CCI1* levels. The 2026 edition will run May 15–17, taking over the historical weekend formerly held by Chatsworth and Floors Castle. Piggy March and Halo topped the inaugural CCI4*-S this year, and with Belsay’s growing profile and Adrian Ditcham-designed cross country, it’s shaping up to be a key prep stop for top UK combinations heading to Aachen, Luhmühlen, and Bramham. We’re already marking our calendars! More information can be found here.
Catch up with cross country course designer Adrian Ditcham to see what’s in store for 2026:
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Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (GA)
News & Reading
With her top-15 Pau finish last month, Emily Hamel completed all six Northern Hemisphere CCI5* events with her horse of a lifetime, Corvett. The USEA caught up with Emily to reflect on the milestone achievement, which was truthfully never really on her list of “things to do.” And has she ruled out a trip Down Under to contest the seventh 5* in the world at Adelaide? Find out here.
In the latest installment of The Chronicle of the Horse‘s “Ask Stable Sage” column, one reader writes in with a raw and relatable question: What does one do when they’ve lost their nerve, post-baby? Does that “nerve” come back? What follows is one of the most compassionate, clear-eyed responses we’ve read on the subject of postpartum identity shifts, rewritten instincts, and the bravery it takes just to get back in the saddle, both emotionally and literally. If you’ve ever questioned your confidence after becoming a parent (or frankly, at any point in life), this one’s worth your coffee break and you can read it here.
Ever wondered how much it costs to clone a horse, or whether clones can compete at the Olympics? Horse & Hound’s Polly Bryan has you covered with a fascinating breakdown of equine cloning, from pricing (hint: you’ll need around $85K) to famous cases like Chilli Morning’s cloned sons and Gem Twist’s genetic twins. Whether you’re into bloodline preservation, rare breed rescue, or just want to know if cloned horses share the same white markings (spoiler: they don’t), this one’s full of cloning curiosities. Read it here.
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
Did you know? Extra hay keeps horses warm in cold weather! A sedentary mature horse will need 2% more high-quality forage for every degree the temperature falls below the lower critical temperature. (For clipped horses, the critical temperature is 41°F (5°C). For horses with a thick winter coat, critical temperature is 18°F (-8°C)). Small or older horses will be less tolerant of cold temperatures.
Find more tips like this from Kentucky Performance Products here.
Video Break
Preview an exclusive interview with European Champion Laura Collett, coming your way soon via British Eventing:
