DAY two of Dublin Horse Show saw Irish riders add to their already impressive run of results, not least by Kildare’s Mikey Pender, who recorded his second international victory in the space of 24 hours.
Pender partnered the Marion Hughes-owned and bred mare ‘HHS Fortune’ (ISH) to victory in the Speed Derby, finishing two seconds ahead of Niamh McEvoy in second with ‘Aconzina PS’. Irish riders filled all of the top five places, with Trevor Breen taking third spot with ‘Gonzalo’.
In the later Anglesea Stakes, Aga Khan team member Cian O’Connor and his World Championship mount ‘C Vier 2’ finished as runners-up after a hugely competitive 14-horse jump-off. They finished just over half a second behind Egyptian winner Nayel Nassar with ‘Coronado’, who took the winner’s prize, while Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat finished third with ‘Albfuehren’s Maddox’.
Among the national competitions that took place in the main arena, Brendan Murphy guided ‘Grennanstown Max A Million’ to top spot in the Horse Sport Ireland six-year-old class. Diarmuid Ryan and ‘Newmarket Amy’ were winners of the Horse Sport Ireland four-year-old Event Horse class, while the Horse Sport Ireland five-year-old Event Horse class was won by Stephen Smith and ‘CJO Kann Surprise’.
Speaking after another hugely successful day for Irish breeders, owners and riders at the Dublin Horse Show, Horse Sport Ireland CEO Denis Duggan said: “The results today are a testament to the quality of the Irish sport horse breeding that occurs in every rural parish of Ireland. Such results follow the successful launch of the ‘Business of Sport Horse Breeding Report 2022’, which captured the intended sentiment of the sector in the context of capital investment and the opportunities that exist for farmers who wish to diversify.
“The post pandemic era has evidenced sales of sport horses being described as buoyant and unprecedented, with demand outstripping supply. Even against the backdrop of transient inflationary costs, the Report sees breeders confident that the market will remain robust, notwithstanding production costs, strong sales figures indicate returns for the average breeder of 10 mares or less. According to the OEC/ CSO, live Irish equine exports have exceeded €390 million each year since 2017. Ireland is the fourth largest exporter of live equines globally. This represents strength and stability in the Irish market. This figure does not account for domestic sales, hence overall market activity is likely in excess of €400 million.”
Denis Duggan added: “The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, through Horse Sport Ireland, offer diverse national breeding initiatives grounded in equine genetic factor research and breed improvement aligned to breeding programme goals. These initiatives facilitate breeders to make informed decisions and maintain the quality and value of the Irish horse. Furthermore, the introduction of TAMS support for equines will further support a production base that is affordable and achievable. Horse Sport Ireland has long advocated for ‘equine farming’ to be considered as a tangible farming output, and this Report confirms that that such farming is happening throughout the island of Ireland, noting that 48% of equine farmers are combining this activity with a beef or sheep enterprise. To that end, Horse Sport Ireland would encourage all ‘mainstream’ farmers, to look beyond the inaccurate reporting of the sector and consider the benefits an equine activity could achieve for future outputs. Horse Sport Ireland would like to thank Minister Hackett for her support of the sector by acknowledging the potential and offering a perspective of future farming.
“Horse Sport Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have, and continually advise, that all farming activities concerning livestock are grounded in animal welfare and breeding best practice. Additional information and support can be sought through the Business in Breeding quoted breeding code of practice and from the Teagasc equine advisory and training activities.”
BREEDING
HHS Fortune (ISH) 2011 mare by Catoki (HOLST), out of Hhs Daisy (ISH) by Ard Vdl Douglas (KWPN) bred and owned by Marion Hughes and ridden by Michael James Pender.
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