Margie McLoone

HORSEWARE Stellor Rebound is the leading horse of 2015 with 189 points, all of which were attained in just five outings before the middle of June after which owner/rider Sarah Ennis, with Rio in her sights, decided to withdraw the 11-year-old bay gelding from competition to attend to issues with his feet.

The Co Meath combination first picked up 22 points for finishing second in the CNC*** at Ballindenisk CIC*** on March 22nd. A week after that, they started a sequence of second-placings in CIC*** classes on their first visit to Burgham, in the Nations’ Cup at Ballindenisk a month later and, in mid-May, at Chatstworth, scene of their triumph 12 months previously. Their final outing came at Bramham where they finished fourth on their dressage score for 80 points.

Earlier this month, while show jumping at Cavan, Ennis learned that she was no longer to receive funding as a member of the ‘Rio Squad’ and, naturally, expressed herself to be bitterly disappointed.

It’s to be hoped that following a much-needed holiday in the sun with her family the Irish Horse World eventing columnist, who has never steered clear of a challenge, will return revitalised and get her VDL Ricochet gelding back on course for the Olympics. In speaking to this writer however, she expressed reservations about asking Horseware Stellor Rebound to do three CIC***s, including Tattersalls which is compulsory, to qualify for selection.

“As getting to the Olympics has been a long-term goal, I would like to make the team,” stated Ennis.

“If not, I suppose I would have to consider Badminton, where they do everything in their power to have the ground in perfect condition, while I am really going to work hard to get our dressage down into the 30s.”

Unfortunately, as his breeding and breeder are not recorded on CapallOir, Rhona Barnwell loses out on being the season’s top breeder that honour going, as stated elsewhere on this page, to Cormac McKay, owner of the second highest-ranked horse, Euro Prince.

However, Horseware Stellor Rebound helped Ennis be the third highest-ranked owner on 302 points behind Carol Gee (306) of Fernhill Sport Horses and Carol and Tom Henry (406), the much-appreciated supporters of the third highest-ranked rider Michael Ryan.

The Bandon-based international had two horses for the American couple in the Top 10 listing, Dunlough Striker and Ballylynch Adventure, while his wife Patricia also had a good season on the Henrys’ Tullineaskey Hi Ho (fifth on list of horses) and Dunrath Eclipse.

Click here to read about the top 10 eventing sires of 2015