THERE was plenty of activity on the racehorse to riding horse scene last weekend with some riders taking in both the EquiFestival in Mullingar on Saturday and the following day’s National Hound Show and Family Fair at Stradbally Hall.

Ridden by Westmeath trainer Dot Love, Heisacoolhand won the open class at Mullingar but, on Sunday, could only finish fourth at the Co Laois venue where the 11-year-old Great Palm gelding recorded his sole racing win in the confined hunts’ maiden at the 2012 Laois hunt meeting.

The grey has proved far more successful as an eventer and has struck up a good partnership with junior rider Sofie Walshe

The winner on Sunday, when distractions included Pony Club games, western riding and inter-hunt chases, was the 18-year-old Accordion gelding Night Busker, the winner of a bumper, two hurdles and two chases when trained by the late Paddy Mullins and Dessie Hughes.

Following his racing career, Night Busker was successful evented by Rhona Healy although last season he too moved into junior company under Alex Corscadden.

On Sunday, it was Melanie Love who partnered the gelding to victory and the pair also won the Champagne Challenge. Melanie was presented with a bottle of bubbly as she had most water left in her glass having done a show piece of walk, trot and canter on both reins. Her mother Dot didn’t fare so well here with Heisacoolhand not being at all pleased to find himself being drenched in this way!

Finishing second in the open was the Caroline Harty-ridden Princeton Plains who won both the retraining and racehorse to riding horse side-saddle classes. Caroline, daughter of Princeton Plains’ former trainer Eddie Harty, is heading to the Dublin Horse show with this 10-year-old Tagula gelding who won a flat handicap and three hurdle races in the colours of J.P. McManus.

Mullingar, Saturday, July 2nd

Open class: 1 (and ITM qualifier), Heisacoolhand (Dot Love), 11yo gr g by Great Palm-Randelstown Lady, bd Patrick Day; 2, The Biscuit Club (Chris Carter), 13yo b g by Supreme Leader-Azaban, bd Mary O’Sullivan; 3, The Waffler (Kelly Kidd), 15yo b g by Humbel-Coole Jasmine, bd Larry Murphy; 4, Enemy Engagement (Leela Purdy), 8yo ch g by Desert King-Lovely Pride, bd Francis Small.

Retraining class: 1 (and ITM qualifier), The Biscuit Club (Chris Carter).