West Cork Horse Breeders

Bandon-based Michael Ryan was best of the Irish at the close of the hotly-contested Eventing World Cup Qualifier at Tattersalls, Co Meath, claiming a third place with the Irish-bred 'Ballylynch Adventure'. And it was a triumphant day for Irish-bred horses, with seven in the top ten, including the Cruising gelding 'Ashdale Cruise Master', ridden to victory this afternoon by British star Oliver Townend. A total of six Irish riders made it through to the top ten after four days of gruelling competition that left only 16 international combinations to contest the final show jumping phase. Britain took the top two places, with veteran Mary King and 'Apache Sauce' just seven points adrift of winner Townend, while last year's defending champion, Patricia Ryan with 'Fernhill Clover Mist' had to settle for 14th overall. Husband Michael, however, who finished second in 2009, led an Irish assault on the leaderboard that saw Aoife Clarke and the Irish-bred 'Master Crusoe' in fifth, with Irish horses and riders accounting for four other places in the top ten finishers. In the two-star event at Tattersalls, which was won by New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson on 'Quimbo', Carlow's Sam Watson was best of the Irish with a fourth place on the Irish-bred 'Hoyo'.

At a recent meeting in Leap West Cork Horse Breeders launched The All Ireland Breeders Championship. This competition is being run in conjunction with The Irish Shows Association and is very generously sponsored by Pegus Horse Feed. This is an Irish Company set up by the Stone family and now being run by David Stone and his son.David's father came from Portlaw in Waterford. He worked as a Horse Trainer in The Far East and recognised the value of grass in the diet of the horse. He returned to Ireland to try to develop a grass cube and so the Company Pegus was born. This company now supplies many varities of Horse Feed and is available at Co Op Stores and other Feed Stuff Suppliers throughout the Country. West Cork Horse Breeders are very happy to announce they are now the generous sponsors of The Breeders Championship. The competition will be confined to Mares seven years old and younger with foal at foot. The aim of the class is to give recognition to Breeders who breed suitable mares to produce top quality foals with performance potential. Qualifiers will be held at Shows throughout the country including three shows in County Cork. The overall winner will receive €1000 and Sash. It is hoped that this very attractive class will incourage breeders to showcase their young mares and foals. Progeny must be by an Approved Stallion and each Mare and Foal will be judged as a unit. All Ireland Breeders Championship Rules & Conditions

West Cork Horse Breeders had a full house for their Seminar held in The Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway last week. The theme for the Seminar was: “Sport Horse Breeding – The Way Forward” and there was an impressive panel of speakers. Dr Jack Murphy dwelt on how to breed the “Showjumper of the Future”. He spoke that Ireland is no longer a world leader in this field we have moved well down the rankings in Show Jumping in recent years and to regain our position we need a Breeding Programme which is science based and performance driven. The genetic improvement of the horse population is important he said and we must breed the animal with the genetic make up to compete at the highest level in Show Jumping. Dr Donagh Berry followed up by emphising the importance of research in animal breeding. He said the achievements in the Dairy Herd could be replicated in the horse population. If we're serious about a breeding programme we need funding for research he said..Ms.Alison Corbally H.S.I.Director of Breeding and Programmes travelled from Dublin for the seminar. She outlined the New Breeding Programme which has just been launched by H.S.I. has two seperate Breeding Policies, one for The Draft Horse and one for The Sport Horse. The Draft Objective is to breed a horse with confirmation,movement and temperament that conform to the breed standard which will make a good sound and versatile horse she said and the Goal of the I.S.H. Is to produce a horse that is sound, athletic with good paces and suitable temperament to be competative at the highest level in F.E.I. Disciplines.

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