By Horse Sport Ireland / HSI
Photography: Laurence Dunn/JumpInAction
The Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Show Jumping Studbook Series is a staple of the spring/summer calendar and yet again proved to be wonderful success for some fantastic young horses. This year also saw an increase in the overall prize fund available to the series to €95,000.
Running from May through to July, the series offers a platform for young horses as they develop towards elite level with a particular focus on representing Irish Studbooks at the WBFSH showjumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium and as of 2023, the new WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands.
Speaking about the series, Head of Breeding, Development and Innovation with HSI, Dr Sonja Egan said: “I wish to congratulate all breeders, riders, and owners on their success throughout the Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series 2023. It is notable that many of our league and leg winners were homebred Irish horses, which is brilliant to see.
“On review of last year’s HSI Studbook Series, we worked to include aspects which aided the progressive development of these horses and producers. An increase in prize money to €95,000 included greater breeder recognition and the introduction of a young riders’ prize, rewarding good breeding decisions and young producers. The courses saw the introduction of ground lines and optional/compulsory inclusion of the water fence. I wish to commend our course builders who supported these initiatives and built brilliant tracks, with increasing technicality week on week.
“Undoubtedly these are improvements that support in preparation for Lanaken. However, more importantly, the series provided a strong resource for breeders and producers to progressively develop these stars of the future, and in doing so contribute to both their experience and value.
“We will be opening a short online consultation and I encourage stakeholder’s engagement and perspectives on the series design. I look forward to working collectively to continue to enhance our young horse production programmes.”
Strong start
Beginning in Galway Equestrian Centre, the series got off to a strong start and saw some familiar names come to the fore. Gerard Clarke and Castleforbes Gillian (ISH) won the seven-year-old class, jumping double clear to pip Monbeg Ruby (ISH) and Tomas Doyle to top spot on the podium. Shane Moloney was third with HHS Disney (ISH).
The series moved to Barnadown Equestrian Centre, Co Wexford for the second leg in early May, with World Champion Ethen Ahearne proving victorious with LVS Goldrush H (ISH) in the seven-year-old class... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BREEDING NEWS
SUBSCRIBERS CAN READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY LOGGING IN AND RETURNING TO THIS PAGE
