By Horse Sport Ireland
Photography: Sportfot and courtesy Horse Sport Ireland
The 2023 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horse marked the 28th of this prestigious event at the world-renowned Zangersheide Stud in Lanaken, Belgium. The championships proved its significance once again in the world of equestrian sports.
Held from September 21 to 24, the event showcased the finest in young horses and Horse Sport Ireland’s Young Horse Jumping Squad,renowned for its rich history of success in Lanaken, left an indelible mark on the championships with a strong contingent of talented riders and exceptional equine athletes. Coming into the 2023 edition of the show as the reigning champions in both the five- and six-year-old divisions, Chef d’Equipe Taylor Vard was quietly confident in what his team could achieve.
The first of the three Grand Finals at the WBCYH saw an incredible performance from the Irish riders with six of the 12 Irish starters qualifying for an 11-horse jump-off resulting in an Irish whitewash. Team Ireland filled all three podium places, recording a clean sweep for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook for the second time in the event’s history.
Mikey Pender, the world number 97 ranked rider, was the first of the Irish to return a double clear round with HHS Ocala (ISH) in a time of 37.22 seconds following a daring turn after the second fence back to the Longines double paid off. A long, brave gallop to the last left him unbeatable riding the Urano De Cartigny (SF) sired gelding to become the new World Champion in the five-year-old division. HHS Ocala’s breeder, Marion Hughes was present to witness this incredible victory... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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