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There is a new link on the Link page. Well worth a visit - all about horses in Galway.

Most of these articles have been published in the Irish Field and I am grateful to them for allowing me to republish them here.
All are written by me, Charlie Ripman, so blame me if you don’t like them!
 These were a few stories that appeared for Christmas 2006.

Kate Horgan. Senior Joint Master of the Duhallow, Chair of the IMFHA.

            In the days of the late Dan Coleman, Michael Buckley (now huntsman) was a non riding Kennel Huntsman. Hunting on his feet, he jumped off a bank and broke his leg on landing. Kate was dispatched to get a jeep to take the poor fellow to the road for onward shipment to hospital. The nearest farm was that of the late Mr.Coughlan who was not at all keen on the hunting. Kate rode into his yard and was met with some strong language and Mr. C said,

            “If you don’t get out of my yard I will pull you from your horse”.

            “If you do and I land on top of you,” replied Kate “you will be a lot worse off than me!” The farmer enjoyed her sense of humour so much that he let the jeep through his farm and the relationship between himself and the hunt got better and better from then on.

 Another from Kate.

            When aged 14 Kate was on a cob that pulled very hard and she could not hold one side of it. At the time there was a Lady Joint Master and Kate found herself fast approaching a bank, on top of which the Lady Master was surveying her intended landing point. Kate took a pull to no avail and hit the lady and her horse with such force that they were catapulted into a heap in the field beyond. Needless to say it was the end of Kate’s day as she was sent home! The moral is – don’t bump into the Lady Master, perhaps the same holds true today!

 Matt Dempsey. The Mega-Boss of The Farmer’s Journal and The Irish Field and Chairman of the Kildare Foxhounds.

            He recalled one of his early days with the Kildare. Father had given him a very capable horse but it did take a fair hold. Having kept up well during a good hunt he was eventually buried in a big dyke. His horse set off after the hounds and the young Dempsey was collecting his cap and whip from 3 ft of muddy water when he heard a voice above him.

“Hey you boy” bellowed a be-whiskered English visitor, “move that branch so I can jump”. Being polite, Matt obeyed and once the branch was out of the way the ‘gentleman’ jumped not only the ditch but Matt as well. Extricating himself from the dyke, he had a very long walk before he caught up with his horse and continued the hunt. He never saw the visitor again – perhaps he was in a dyke learning a little humility.

 William Bryer. Huntsman, County Limerick Foxhounds.

            When William was whipping-in to David Barker at the Meynell and South Staffordshire they used to be sent potential event horses by such luminaries as Lucinda Green to be cubbed and if they took to hunt service they would stay for the season as part of their training. William remembers that one day he was told to be especially careful with the young horse he was given. “Keep it away from the rest of the field and look after it” were his instructions.

            They were having a good morning and Bryer was jumping hedge after hedge until he landed in a field where a shire stallion was grazing. The sight of another horse was too much for the heavy horse and he set off in pursuit of the intruders. After a circuit trying to avoid the angry beast our hero and the mount he was keeping in cotton wool, made to jump the hedge onto the road and safety. It was now that William realised that the foot-followers were lined along the hedge watching the action. As they parted like the Red Sea at his approach, the stallion got his teeth into the quarters of William’s horse just as it took off for the security of the road. They landed safely with the stallion roaring on the other side of the hedge. All was well and the whipper-in returned to his duties. Oh and the name of the horse – Tamarillo who went on to be William Fox-Pitt’s top eventer.

 Mark Ollard. Whipper-in, County Limerick Foxhounds.

            Mark started in hunt service with Roddy Bailey who was Master and huntsman at the Morpeth in Northumberland. There are huge blocks of forestry on the hills up there and out cubbing on his first morning, riding one of Mr. Bailey’s expensive Irish imports, poor Ollard was unshipped when the horse stumbled in a bog. The horse set off into the depth of the forest while the young whipper-in had to report its absence to his boss. Search parties and a helicopter were sent out to find the beast to no avail. It was two days later that the animal was found, very happily grazing in a clearing and seemingly unmoved by the experience.

 Roddy Bailey. Previously prominent member of the MFHA committee in the UK and Master and huntsman of the Morpeth. Now retired to the joys of the Island country in Wexford.

Some years ago an ageing MFH and former Army Colonel went to a hunting meeting, followed by dinner in Dublin. No longer able to drive he went south on the train from Drogheda to Dublin. The ‘craic’ was great and after a good meal and plenty of ‘sauce’ his fellow MsFH placed him carefully on the north bound train for home giving the conductor specific instructions to put him off onto the platform at Drogheda. Warning the train official that the old man was liable to be cantankerous the conductor was advised not to take too much notice of his moods when woken from his slumbers – his wife would cope on the destination platform.

Some time later the old MFH awoke – to his horror in Belfast. He berated the train official with his walking stick and the best language a life time could produce.

‘Oh Colonel’ sighed the man,’ your language is fierce but not half as fierce as that of the fellah we put off in Drogheda!’

 Clare Ryan. Facilitator for overseas buyers and top eventing commentator.

On a warm summer day as she drove into Heinz Wehrli's beautiful remote farm up in the mountains over-looking Bantry Bay, Clare, with a young American client ready to try a potential eventer, noticed a big goose strutting around the yard. When they got out of the car and exchanged pleasantries, the topic of conversation turned to the large white feathered fellow, who was checking them out.

Heinz told them that a friendly neighbour had, the previous November, offered Charlotte and himself, a goose for Christmas, well, they thought, that had solved the menu for Christmas day!

When the Christmas time came the neighbour kept his promise and duly delivered the bird, but the goose was not ready for the oven, but very much alive! The Wehrli's, being animal lovers, couldn't bring themselves to kill the bird, so he was left as a pet and had taken on the roll of security guard for the establishment. Everyone thought that was wonderful!

An hour later, Clare set out from the sand school to get some video tapes from her car. She was stretching into the very depths of the boot, when she got an almighty peck on the backside, which made her jump a mile and let out a string of un-ladylike language. The gander had certainly made his presence felt, but Clare was now thinking that maybe he would, after all, look very nice all dressed for the Christmas, with roast potatoes!

Michael Ryan. International Eventer and mad keen hunting man.

            Michael was hunting from Lattin a few years ago and was riding with the Scarteen’s legendry kennel huntsman, Tommy O’Dwyer. It was 4.30 in the afternoon and they had ridden hard for about four and a half miles with hounds screaming below them. Coming to a stone wall with wire on the landing side, Ryan jumped first and turned to see that Tommy was safe.

            “Are you all right Tommy?” he called, and he put his hand on the horse’s quarters to steady himself. With that the beast put in a buck worthy of the rodeo and launched Michael way into the air and into a heap on the ground.

            “I’m all right sir” said Tommy as he cantered past “are you?”

As a post script to this story, Michael was hunting last week again from Lattin, again hounds were flying and again he was riding with Tommy. As they approached a huge bank Michael suggested to Tommy that perhaps they might jump a smaller place further along. Tommy kicked on without a word and jumped the imposing bank and the International Eventer felt bound to follow!

  It would be wrong to have an anthology of hunting tales without a ‘Fox in the tree’ story.

            Hounds had hunted well and marked their fox in a tree. He was resting on the branch well above the hounds, looking rather smug. There was a problem in that the tree was on land owned by a non hunting landowner. While the huntsman was deciding what to do, the landowner arrived on the scene. Diplomacy equal to the United Nations was clearly needed.

            “Don’t worry” said the huntsman “I will take the hounds away and he will come down in his own time.” He called his hounds and they all turned to him and started to move away from the tree. Unfortunately no one had told the whipper-in of the negotiations. Seeing hounds going to the huntsman he waved his whip and growled at them to hurry on. This was too much for the fox, who chose this moment to make good his escape. All would have been well, for the hounds were all facing away from the tree. Feeling his duty was to lay hounds, on our whipper-in let rip with an ear-piercing holloa – hounds turned just as Mr. Fox touched down and set off in full cry. Diplomacy destroyed, the huntsman abandoned his hounds and returned to the negotiating table. All was resolved – landowner satisfied that it was a misunderstanding on the fox’s behalf that had caused the problem and the fox lived, after a further hours hunting, to torment another day.

 Having delved into the misfortunes of others, it would be wrong not to tell of one of my own.

            I was not a very good huntsman and lack of scent and foxes (we had 4 gun packs in the country) sport was not good. A gentleman in the area of this particular meet had a bit of a reputation for ‘having one in a bag’. I was determined that I was going to have nothing to do with that sort of thing and had my eye on him at the first draw. When it was he who holload the fox away I was convinced it was one of his ‘specials’.

            Hounds flew and the field thought that Christmas had come early. We galloped and jumped for two miles, hounds screaming with glee and myself screaming to try and stop them hunting the bagman. Luckily I was riding my best Irish bred horse and I arrived just as hounds caught their fox by the road. There was my man with a big smile on his face and he came to congratulate me on the hunt. I was apoplectic with anger at the thought that I had killed a bagged fox and vented my wrath on the poor fellow. When I paused to draw breath, he smiled, pointed to his van and said “It wasn’t mine sir, mine is still in the back”. I retired at the end of the season.

 Now we have a review of the UK and Irish eventing season of 2006.

Didn’t the Irish Breds Do Well.?

            Now the eventing season, both here in Ireland and in the UK is finished the lists are available giving the top points scoring horses. A look at the UK top 150 gives the Irish breeders every reason to be very proud. It is impossible to say, with any accuracy, exactly what percentage of the horses actually competing in the UK are Irish bred but it is in the region of 25%. Of the top 20 in the UK 11 (55%) are Irish. Of the top 40 it is 22 (55%) and of the top 50 just 25 or 50% were bred in Ireland. Of the top 100 – 44% and of the 150 - 59 or 39% are from over here. This is a stunning result. These are the elite eventing horses and judged on points scored so it is important to see if we can learn anything from their breeding.

            Of the 59, pleasingly, only three are of unknown breeding and of the rest 39 (69% of those with known sires) are by thoroughbred stallions, nine are by Irish Sport Horses, four by the Holstein Cavalier Royale, three are by Registered Irish Draughts and one by Robertstown Boy who is on the Weatherby’s Non Thoroughbred Register. Another great result for traditional Irish breeding. It is at this point that the statistics become interesting and seem to show that breeding has just as many risks as roulette. Of the 56 where we know the sire, only four of these sires have more than one representative. Cavalier Royale has 4 and Ballinvella, I’m A Star and Master Imp have two each. Before we consider why this should be, let us look at the situation in Ireland.

            Of the 100 highest scoring horses over here there are just twelve where the sire is not known but a further 11 have sires with indeterminate breed codes and thus we are looking at just 77 that will give us useful information. Twenty nine (37%) are by thoroughbreds, 23 (29%) by ISH sires, 7 (9%) by Holsteins, 5 (6.4%) by Dutch Warmbloods, 4 by Connemara Ponies and 9 by various others including Riding Ponies. Traditional breeding is slipping a bit as there is only one by a Registered Irish Draught but the percentages are still generally good for Irish breeding. Looking at the individual stallions we see Cavalier Royale and Master Imp (TB) neck and neck on 5 each with Puissance (ISH) with 3. The rest, like the UK, are spread very thinly and give no clue as to which path one should follow.

            One thing that catches the eye is that Master Imp hardly gets a mention in the UK and one would have expected him to feature more there than he does in Ireland. Looking at his eventing progeny in the UK, it is interesting to note that it is not until one gets to horses of 8years old or younger that he reaches 10 competing sons and daughters in any one age group. From 9yos to 13yo he has just 9 competing, from 6yo to 8yo he has 35. Clearly the majority of these younger horses are not at a sufficient level of competition to gain enough points to get into this elite list. Watch this space in the next few years and he will come into his own.

            A look at the UK shows Moon Fleet (Strong Gale) is at number 2, Ringwood Cockatoo (Peacock) is 3^rd, Ben a Long Time (Cavalier Royale) 6^th, Tankers Town (Diamond Clover) 7^th, Spring Along (Pallas Digion) at 8 and Over to You (Over the River) at 10. The full list is available on the British Eventing Web site.

            In Ireland all those with known sires are Irish bred and one would expect that those who lack records are also home bred. The top ten have 71 points separating them and are led by Kilkishen (Cavalier Royale), in 2^nd is Kincluny (Cruise Missile), 3^rd I’ve Been Dun (unknown), 4^th Watership Down (Andretti), 5^th Old Road (Puissance), 6^th Ballystockart (Antwerp City), 7^th Ballybolger Bushman (Puissance), 8^th Quality VH (Alcrataz), 9^th Super Seal (unknown) and 10^th is Ringfort Rara Ruby (Porch). Congratulations to all these and to all who have made the top 100. Again the full list is on the excellent Eventing Ireland web site.

            As everyone would like to breed a winner can we glean anything from this mountain of statistics? Probably not but it must be worth a try. Clearly the breed codes tell their own story and the thoroughbred has much going for it. Once upon a time it was the cross country that sorted out the winners in the eventing world. With, quite correctly, the advent of safer courses, it is the time across country, the dressage and in some, but not all events, the show jumping that has taken on the prime influence. Perhaps this is why the TB has come to the fore because the jumping brains of the Irish Draught are less in demand. However why does Ireland do so well using such a wide variety of sires? Many are now beginning to think it is the mares that are responsible. While there is not as much information on mares as the sires it is possible that many of the ‘eventing’ genes are from the female side. The long winter days will give time to research this and hopefully next season we will be able to shed some light on the ladies.

            At the awards evening for British Eventing William Fox-Pitt won the Tony Collins Memorial Trophy for the rider with most points. We all know how many of his 21 horse string are Irish bred. Zara Phillips got the Jane Holderness-Roddam Trophy for her efforts on the Irish bred Toytown and Highville helped Amy Young claim the trophy for the most points for someone under 21. Laura Collett won the Hubert Allfrey for the best placed at the Junior European Championships where she rode the Irish bred Fernhill Sox. Being at the top is wonderful and the trade at recent sales has proved that buyers from all over are still coming to Ireland to buy their eventers. It is essential that we continue to breed the winners that they so clearly want and thus remain at the very top.

Yet another look at Irish bred eventers.

Irish Bred Eventers, based in Ireland – 2006 Season.

            With the Irish season now behind us it is interesting to see how the successes have been arrived at. Was it just the skill of the riders or was it the way the horses were bred? Clearly the riders have a serious influence as do those who have brought the horses from birth, to the stage where they are ready to compete in public. This is the nurture side of the equation and if you speak to the knowledgeable in the sport they will tell you that this is a most important part of the search for the Holly Grail. However Irish bred horses have been at the top of the eventing tree for many years and there must therefore be something in the breeding that has put them there. It would be interesting to see if one can deduce anything from the breeding of the horses that are competing now.

            It would be easy to look at those horses that have the most points but this would give a distorted view. Ireland is an exporter of great horses and thus the best (in most cases) will have been sold well before they start to gain serious points. By looking at the number of top 10 placings (hereafter ‘place’) in all events one gets a better impression of which breeding is giving a consistently good set of results. It is a sadness that the most places have been attained by horses with no breeding recorded but one must assume that there are many different sires among these 150 horses. However, 511 places were gained by horses sired by 131 different Thoroughbreds. 68 Irish Sport Horses sired progeny who gained 282 places and 23 Registered Irish Draughts have 82 places to their name. With the influence of Cavalier Royale on the wane the Holstein is in 4^th place with 16 sires getting 71 top 10 slots. It would seem that in Ireland the sires that are doing best are the traditional breeds.

            Let us now look at the individual sires. It is not surprising that Master Imp is at the top because the influence of this horse is now world wide. He has sired 16 horses that between them have 76 places and with 50 from 12 horses, Cavalier Royale is in second spot. How good to see Puissance in third place representing the ISH having 6 horses with 31 places. The Belgium Warmblood, Ramiro B, has Tommy B Good to thank for his position at 4^th for 16 of his 28 places are down to him. The son of Master Imp – King’s Master – has 19 places by 4 grandchildren of the great horse. Another traditional Irish breed represented is the Connemara pony, the stallion Templebready Fear Bui has 15 places.

            It would be wrong not to mention some of the individuals that have done so well here in Ireland this year. Tommy B Good (5yo Ramiro B – Ballyvaldon Natalie) has certainly earned his oats this season. From 19 outings he has been in the top 10 sixteen times. Bred by Sylvester Cullen and ridden by his owner Denise O’Brien he is a full brother to Ballynoe Castle RM who has been going so well in the USA. John Craig owns a true Irish bred in Kilrodan Abbott (7yo Clover Brigade – Gentle Lassie) and Frances Younghusband has ridden this horse on the 12 occasions he has run and was in the top ten on all occasions but one, when he was HC and thus he can claim only 11. Ballybolger Bushman (7yo Puissance – Clear Conscience) is another ISH who has worked hard. He attained 10 places from 13 outings and all ridden by Sam Watson for his father John who bred the horse. Finishing 4^th in the Junior European Championships was a wonderful result for this team and hopefully they will be around Irish eventing scene for some time to come. Marian Mortell, with the help of daughters Alison and Michelle, has run Mr. Amadeus (17yo Talrias (TB) – Farnagh Girl (ISH) bred by Jo O’Flaherty) 10 times this year and on each occasion they were in the top 10. A great result for this traditionally bred horse that has, since 2000, been out 60 times and only failed to finish on 6 occasions.

One could not study the breeding of an eventer without looking at the mares. Sadly research is very difficult as many of the mares have no recorded sire and very few have bred more than one animal that is now competing in Ireland. One who has is Shelly’s Diamond by Diamonds are Trumps. She has three who have between them 13 top ten results. All are by Master Imp and all were bred by Noel Skelton.

A hard working horse is John Butler’s Old Road (12yo Puissance – Fairy Fort bred by Yvonne Monahan). While not all his outings have been in Ireland, since August ’99 he has presented 71 times (in recent years at the very highest level) and attained 449 points with a creditable effort at the World Championships. Certainly an indication that the Irish bred horse has a long working life.

            Michael Ryan, who rides Old Road, has been very busy himself this year. With 89 starts he has been in the top 10 just 49 times and among his rides is Thomas Kibbe’s Cappacurry Girl who has been seen 14 times and collected a place 10 times, sadly this daughter of Welcome Diamond has also collected show jumping faults on ten occasions. Michael, who will again be hunting hard with the Scarteen this year (he used to whip-in to Chris Ryan who is no relation) and has high hopes for a nice Master Imp 7yo called Master Mexico for next season. Michael is based in County Cork with Trish Donegan who has Fernhill Clover Mist by Kiltealy Spring aimed at three star events next year. Another busy professional is Englishman Fraser Duffy, who from his base at Grove, has ridden 49 starters this year and attained 33 places. Eamonn Ryan’s Andromaque is a 5yo thoroughbred by Anshan out of the Strong Gale mare Gortnagale. He won the Michael Leonard 5/6yo championship at Ballindenisk and Duffy has high hopes for Le Lion next autumn and it is good to see Fraser reversing the trend of Irish riders basing themselves in the UK. Francis Younghusband is excited by Ballyeigh Diamond for next season. He is a Diamond Lad 7yo out of the Smooth Stepper mare Beau River Lady and owner Danny McKeogh should have a lot of fun with this one. Francis has had 36 rides and has the best hit rate with 26 places giving her a 72% success rate.

            So how much progress have we made in finding the answer to breeding a top event horse? Certainly the influence of overseas sires is there, Cavalier Royale still has an impact and perhaps with the much increased importance of the dressage at lower levels there are others who will impress. However if one looks at the bigger picture it is clear that the Thoroughbred and the Irish Sport Horse are not only significantly more popular but also more successful. As for the mares - a less than scientific screening of the available information again shows the ISH and TB to be the way to go. The nurture of the horses is an altogether different subject, as is how one persuades the owners to turn down mind-boggling sums to keep the horses in Ireland. There is a long way to go before the eventing world can breed with the certainty of those who breed for the racing industry but perhaps the Imperius line may be the route to the Holly Grail we all seek.

I have to thank Eventing Ireland for the excellent new web site without which research of this type would have not been possible. Thanks also to the Irish Horse Board for their continued help in finding breeders and obscure breeding. Charlie Ripman.

Oh God – another!!#

Review of Irish Event Breeding 2006.

          What a year 2006 has been for the Irish breeders of event horses. Those who have ploughed through the mass of statistics each week will know of the great strength in depth of Irish eventers world wide. Not only are they winning at all levels but at the very top of the sport Irish breeders are in a class of their own.

Looking firstly at the foot soldiers of the sport, those that serve their owners and riders by turning out two or three times a month and give so much pleasure by getting into the top ten places - there are too many to mention them all. However on the UK circuit Cesari bred by James McKenna has 11 times been place in the top ten and Loughnatousa Harriman is only one behind on 10. Like most of the Loughnatousa horses it was bred by Tim Beecher on very traditional lines of Irish Draught crossed with thoroughbred. Tim also has another on 10, Loughnatousa Gypsy and Suzanne McConnell bred the Diva, another on ten. Patrick Minoque bred Mister Meaney (9) and Mrs. E.J.O’Grady bred Auburn Girl who is another on nine. On eight top ten places we have ODT Jerry Springs bred by Ronan Tynan which includes a 3^rd in the Open Pre Novice Championships and the Mervyn Wilson bred Enagh Topflight who did his eventing in the Novice classes. Imperial Master is a horse to watch with five 1^st prises this year in Open Intermediate and a CIC**, this Daniel Irish bred gelding is by the great Master Imp. Thomas Dowling bred Moon Man, ridden by Fox-Pitt and he has been 1^st in three star classes twice this year. Suma Stud bred three times winner Millennium Man who is also on 6 top ten finishes.

Now to the USA where the distances make competing a less frequent affair but the Irish breds are still doing very well. The Jane Bradbury bred Delgany Flight catches the eye with 10 top ten slots and there are three not far behind on eight, Benwald who has no breeder recorded but William Micklem bred Maniba who includes two 1^st places ,one in a CCI* and one in the CCI*Young Horse, on his CV. A horse found by Clare Ryan, Ballylaffin Bracken, joins them and bred by Katherine Long, has moved up this year through Training events to Open Preliminary.

Back here in Ireland the top of the table is taken by Tommy Be Good with 16 finishes in the top ten. Sylvester Cullen bred this horse out of his Blue Laser mare Ballyvaldon Natalie. Anthony Byrne bred Teldon and Michael Hogan bred Kilrodan Abbott who both have 11 just one above Cappcurry Girl. This mare is by Welcome Diamond out of Noel Russell’s mare Tarmon Girl who also bred that good eventer Reliance who went to the USA. Mr Amadeus bred by Jo O’Flaherty is also on ten just one ahead of the Noel Skelton bred Killossery Robin’s Nest.

In the first four star competition of the year, Badminton, ten of the top twenty home were Irish bred. The winner, Moonfleet bred by Buddy Brindley put Andrew Hoy on the way to a possible treble. In forth was the J.C.Lett’s bred Over to You closely followed by Comanche, Jo Cavanagh bred this to be fifth. Mary Blundell bred Tanker’s Town (6^th) Willie McDonnell was responsible for Spring Along (8^th) and Pat Keogh bred that good horse Ballincoola (9^th).

            From Badminton all eyes were then on Lexington and the Rolex 4 star. Andrew Hoy got his second top slot and was two thirds of the way to the big money. There were many fewer Europeans this year in Kentuckey and this was reflected in the Irish bred horses on the leader board. In 4^th spot was the Michael Kelly bred Connaught who has served Phillip Dutton so well this year and in 7^th was Polly Stockton on the Dennis O’Sullivan bred Tom Quigley. After the cross country at Burghley, Rolex had the cheque written but Moonfleet’s 12 show jumping penalties was enough to save them having to sign it. Hoy was also in the money with the Irish bred Mr. Pracatan but sadly we cannot credit a breeder in this case as none is recorded. Ballincoola and Over to You were in 6^th and 7^th with the S & M Ross bred Connigar Bay in 8^th. Mary King, who has many Irish bred horses in her string, was 10^th on the Sam Burgess bred Cashel Bay and Piggy French, another great supporter of the Irish bred, was 14^th on Boherdeel Champion that Jan Keck bred.

            At the World Equestrian Games proof if proof were needed of the power of Irish breeding showed up with 4 of the top ten and 6 of the top 20 being from these shores. Research is continuing to find Toytown’s breeding but it is well known that the horse originates from Ireland, having won the Europeans, it repaid Zara Phillips’ faith in her Irish horse. Second was the Anne Marie Jamieson bred Ben a Long Time with Ringwood Cockatoo, whom Hillary Greer bred, in 6^th. Tankers Town was 9^th, Spring Along 12^th and Dag Albert riding for Sweden was 14^th on Who’s Blitz bred by Richard Conlan.

            As the season drew to a close McKinlaigh found himself number two in the top horses in the USA and how proud this must make the breeder Yvonne Walsh. Sadly we don’t know the breeder of the Irish horse Cahir who was 10^th on this very prestigious list. Among the top mares in America Ballinakill Glory, bred by Robert Watchorn, was 3^rd with the John Jo Tierney bred Fleeceworks Starlight on 6^th and UN of Tim Brennan’s breeding in 7^th. Over in the UK, Irish breeders claimed ten of the top twenty in their elite list. Moonfleet (2) Ringwood Cockatoo (3) Ben a Long Time (6) Tankers Town (7) Spring Along (8) Over to You (10) Mr. Pracatan (12) Toytown (14) Ballincoola (15) and Cashel Bay in 16^th.

            Over this side of the water the top horse Kilkishen has no breeder recorded but the second horse on the Eventing Ireland top horse list, Kincluny was bred by Sarah Daly with the Claire Corrigan bred Watership Down in 4^th, Yvonne Monahan bred Old Road to be 5^th and Tom and Linda Magee bred Ballystockart who was 6^th. Probably the proudest breeder is John Watson who bred Ballybolger Bushman whom his son rode into 7^th spot. Diane Harron Eakin used her Premium mare Sheepcote Cordula to breed Ringfort Rara Ruby who was in 10^th place overall.

            Clearly Irish breeders had had a wonderful season but there was better to come when the Irish Sport Horse Stud Book won the WBF Eventing Rankings for the 12^th time in a row. This is worked out with points being awarded to each stud book for FEI competitions with weight being given to the higher grades. What made this win even more positive for Irish breeding was that the two top horses were both Irish – Ringwood Cockatoo and Ben a Long Time.          

            With schemes being put in place to keep a percentage of the best Irish eventers in Ireland, one can only hope that at the breeding of choice will be traditional Irish, for in the long run it is this breeding that has kept the Irish eventer at the very top of the tree. All who care about event horse breeding must thank the breeders for the great job they have done over the years and as well as a happy Christmas, may they have a very prosperous New Year.

That is the end of looking back – now we look forward. Ten To Follow for 2007 can be found on 10 to Follow and we can see how they do during the year.