TIHA research - eventing
FOR many years Ireland has held the reputation as the home of the best breeders and producers of event horses. This is proven time and time again in the rankings compiled by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses.
In fact the Irish Sport Horse Studbook has ranked first on 13 occasions since the inception of the WBFSH Eventing Rankings in 2004, including that year. It also held this position from 2005-2009, again from 2012-2017 and most recently in 2019. In 17 years the ISH Studbook has never been out of the top five placings.
This is thanks in no small part to horses such as Brookpark Vikendi, Ballin Coola, Bay My Hero, Kilronan and Mr Medicott. What is more interesting is the fact that all these named horses – amongst many others – boast full traditional Irish (TIH) pedigrees.
In this fascinating study presented by the Traditional Irish Horse Association, it is illustrated that a significant amount of dam-lines of horses ranked over the years carry TIH, which is encouraging news for the many long-time supporters of traditional breeding in Ireland.
Of the six top horses which pushed the ISH Studbook into Number 1 position in 2004, five of these also flew the TIH banner – namely Ballin Coola, Shear L’eau, Exclusive Imp, Comanche and Lenamore.
Also in that group that year was Ringwood Cockatoo. Although he was registered as ISH, the son of Peacock (TB) was likely to have carried TIH too but for the family of his dam Bailey’s Folly being unrecorded.
Bred by Hilary Greer, Ringwood Cockatoo is one of only two ISH horses to have ever held the No 1 position individually – in 2006.
Mr Medicott was crowned the No 1 event horse in 2012, when the ISH Studbook also headed the leaderboard.
By the great Cruising and bred by Dr Donal Geaney in Kerry, Mr Medicott (TIH) came from a wonderful family with his dam Slieveluachra (Edmund Burke) being a half-sister to Rineen Classic, who is the dam of another five-star performer in Supreme Rock (TIH), also by Edmund Burke. Their dam Golden Brief was by the thoroughbred Awkward Brief.
Both Mr Medicott and Supreme Rock are former Olympic medallists, which is quite a record.
In terms of horse rankings year on year, the study found that Lenamore (who is full TIH) ranked on five occasions between 2004 and 2011. By Sea Crest, he was bred in Co Kildare by Helen Walsh.
Despite the restrictions placed worldwide this past 12 months, the ISH Studbook nevertheless placed fourth in the rankings in 2020 thanks to the efforts of six horses, including Imperial Sky (TIH) and Monarts Masterpiece (TIH).
The clear presence of TIH in their heritage proves that it continues to play a hugely important role in today’s breeding.