Behind the scenes at Royal Ascot: all the colour, with virtually no noise
Catherine Austen is one of just a handful of journalists working on site at Royal Ascot this week – here are her reflections on the first day...
A St Andrews’ graduate, Catherine joined Horse & Hound in 2002 and stayed for 11 years in a variety of roles until she went freelance in June 2013. She rejoined the team part-time in November 2016 as hunting editor. She pretty much lives on the hunting field or at the racecourse, but also loves eventing, as a journalist, press officer and competitor. She was H&H’s sole accredited journalist at the London Olympic Games and has reported from major race meetings and eventing, showjumping and dressage championships and shows round the world, and has hunted all over Britain and Ireland.
Catherine Austen is one of just a handful of journalists working on site at Royal Ascot this week – here are her reflections on the first day...
The former European and world champion tells Catherine Austen about her passion of riding for the British team, why pressure makes her tick and her chance to return to the Olympic fray
In an in-depth interview in H&H this week, Zara Tindall discussed her desire to ride on another championship team for Great Britain and the personalities and aims of her team of horses, and we also bring you some of her training tips
‘This is an opportunity to entertain, inspire and share learning about hounds from around the globe’
Each equestrian sport can benefit from the specialist expertise of another. Catherine Austen investigates the advantages of interaction between eventing and racing
‘Anyone who has had anything to do with puppies is well aware of their sense of adventure’
The fast and feisty chestnut mare who has every cross-country question sewn up
The ideal horse for youth championships does not have to be an elite star, Catherine Austen says, finding that temperament and partnership are as vital as talent
Dr Dan Martin on switching from the rugby world to horses – and one jockey’s disgusting Christmas dinner
Running Badminton requires the time, energy and skill of thousands of people every year. Catherine Austen speaks to a few of the key players about their roles and favourite memories
The trainer bagged his first Cheltenham winner before the lockdown. Catherine Austen discovers his unique prep and how he’s reliving the memories
Many great horses helped make Sir Mark Todd’s eventing career such an illustrious one, but everyone can only ever have one first Badminton winner. Sir Mark talks about Southern Comfort, with whom he won his first Badminton in 1980...
Mark Todd was already an all-time great when he retired for the first time, in 2000. But when his comeback yielded yet another Badminton winner and further Olympic tilts, he cemented his supremacy, says Catherine Austen
Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent master Richard Gurney’s hunting life has come full circle, as Catherine Austen finds out
The hunting person’s guide to occupying yourself for a whole day during the current Covid-19 crisis...
Two of the world’s most brilliant event riders discuss how they handle pressure, compare their top horses and how many they ride before breakfast time
Visiting beautiful stately homes is one of eventing’s unique selling points, and different locations have come and gone. Catherine Austen takes a nostalgic tour and catches up on plans for two venues that return to the fixtures list in 2020