By Horse Sport Ireland / HSI
Photography: Irish Eventing Times, H. Cruden, D. Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The 2023 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Studbook Rankings were released on October 13, where it was announced that the Irish Sport Horse Studbook (ISH) has retained its place as the leading studbook for Eventing horses in 2023.
The WBFSH rankings also show that the Irish Sport Horse has maintained its Top 10 placing for showjumping horses, moving up to sixth place from 10th in 2022 and 2021.
In an even more positive development, the six horses, whose individual ranking count towards the overall studbook score, all placed within the Top 20 internationally for event horses, and the Top 120 for showjumpers.
Speaking about the ranking result, Dr. Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Development and Innovation in Horse Sport Ireland had the following to say, “Horse Sport Ireland would like to congratulate the breeders, owners, and riders of the horses who contributed to the success and ranking of the Irish Sport Horse in 2023. We would also like to acknowledge the connections of all horses who represent the Irish Sport Horse, and Irish breeding worldwide.
“We would like to particularly acknowledge the joint 17th ranked Irish Sport Horse in eventing, Oughterard Cooley (ISH)[TIH]. He is the leading traditionally bred Irish Sport Horse in the rankings and shows the continued value of traditional breeding in the modern age. Traditional breeding also comes to the forefront in the dams of the showjumpers James Kann Cruz (ISH) and Rincoola Milsean (ISH). Also noteworthy is the contribution of Thoroughbred mares as can be seen in the back breeding of the event horse Black Ice (ISH), and the showjumpers Up Too Jacco Blue (ISH) and GRS Lady Amaro (ISH).
“It is due to the continued efforts of all of our breeders that the Irish Sport Horse is one of the leading sport horse studbooks in the world. Each year with each crop of new foals being born comes the renewed dream of all breeders to breed an eventual champion. To breed a horse that will in time trot into the hallowed arenas of the world, from the RDS to Badminton, Aachen to Burghley, Lanaken to Le Lion d’Angers, Valkenswaard to Kentucky. Without the dedication of our breeders, producers and the wider connections from grooms, vets, farriers, dentists, physios, and all the ancillary roles in between, results like today’s result simply do not happen. Their contribution is not unnoticed.
“We must also make special mention of the owners of these incredible horses, whose investment in them is vital in continually giving them the opportunity to compete on the world stage... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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