THE Irish Horse Board hosted a reception at the HHS Horse Show in Co Kilkenny recently to honour three key figures from the Irish equestrian industry and to recognise the huge contribution they have made to the sport.

The first of those was Marion Hughes of Hughes Horse Stud, who is known across Ireland and internationally not only as an Olympic rider and international Grand Prix winner, but as one of the most influential and respected breeders in the world of show jumping.

Marion received a special presentation as the breeder of HHS Mercedes (ISH), the outstanding seven-year-old who claimed gold at the 2024 World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium.

HHS Mercedes (ISH) is the latest in a long line of champions bred at Hughes Horse Stud - a list that includes Olympic and World Championship horses like Special Envoy, World Cup winners like Diamond Exchange, and international stars such as Royal Charmer, Heritage Fortunus, and HHS Calais to name a few.

The Irish Horse Board also honoured Eileen Brennan, a champion of Irish heritage and equestrian excellence. Eileen stands as one of Ireland’s most distinguished advocates for the Irish Draught horse breed, having devoted decades of her life to preserving and promoting this iconic symbol of Irish agricultural heritage.

Her contributions extend far beyond personal involvement, encompassing leadership roles in Carlow Pony Club, National Ploughing and Irish Draught Breeders Associations, while pursuing critical conservation initiatives through organisational excellence in breed promotion, and a lifelong commitment to maintaining the standards and traditions that define Irish equestrian culture.

The final presentation was made to Peter Brady from Drumagoland, Co Cavan, whose five-decade dedication to cultivating elite Irish Sport Horses culminated in the historic 2025 Kentucky CCI4*-S victory of his home-bred Off The Record.

Brady began his career 50 years ago with a single Irish Draught mare purchased at a local sale. This mare, by the stallion Skylark and bred by Ballyhaise Agricultural College, became the foundation of a breeding programme.