Equine traceability

system webinar

THE next Teagasc “Let’s Talk Equine” webinar will focus on the new equine traceability system, and will take place on February 24th at 8pm via Zoom. It will be hosted by Teagasc Equine Specialist, Wendy Conlon, who will be joined on the night by Roseanne Greene from the Animal Identification and Movement Division of the DAFM, and it will cover what breeders, owners and operators need to know about the new system. Questions can be submitted in advance of the webinar to wendy.conlon@teagasc.ie as well as live during the evening, and interested parties can register for it and access the full series of previous webinars at teagasc.ie/letstalkequine.

Carter elected chair of AIRC

FOLLOWING his re-election to the board of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs, Chris Carter was elected to the role of chairman at their meeting last week. The Tara Riding Club member said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone involved. We have a strong association, and I hope to build on the excellent work already done to help make the association even better in the years ahead.”

Long-time Nuenna Farm Riding Club chairperson Dympna Gibbons now holds the role of vice-chair, and the organisation extended its thanks to the outgoing chairperson Louise Duffy and vice-chair Ann Bloomer for their dedicated service.

National Breeding

Services schemes open

HORSE Sport Ireland announced this week that their National Breeding Service (NBS) schemes have opened to applications. Funded by the DAFM, the NBS schemes contribute to the Young Horse Pathway delivered by HSI, which is available to all breeders, producers and owners in Ireland with the aim of supporting every stage of a sport horse’s development up until eight years of age. The schemes on offer are consistent with previous years, and include the Starting scheme, Schooling scheme and Mare Breeding Package scheme, although applications for the Mare X-ray Screening scheme have yet to open. Horses and ponies must be studbook registered with recorded breeding to avail of them, and applicants must submit a screenshot of their Equine Operator profile to proceed with their applications. Further information can be found at horsesportireland.ie

Judges announced for Balmoral Show

THE Royal Ulster Agricultural Society has announced the line-up of judges who will officiate at the 157th running of Balmoral Show. Carl Owen and Philippa Scott will evaluate the Ridden Hunters and that championship, while Faye Ludlow and Anne Leaver will judge the Coloured Horses, Ladies Hunters and Riding Horses. Faith Ponsonby will adjudicate the side-saddle class, Amy Kinane and Andrew Bowie will do the same for the Working Hunters and Jane Darragh will decide on the Balmoral Star of the Future. Leading trainer Gavin Cromwell will judge the Racehorse to Riding Horse class with Stuart Crawford, while Matt McGivern and Louise Gaunt will look after the Ridden Cobs. Qualifiers begin next week ahead of the show, which takes place at the Eikon Exhibition Centre from May 13th-16th.

Para dressage riders on Doha podium

IRISH para dressage riders Katie Reilly and Jessica McKenna have made the long journey to Doha worthwhile by amassing four podium finishes so far. In Thursday’s Grand Prix A - Grade III test, Reilly finished second to Italian rider Francesca Salvade on a score of 70.833%, while McKenna was just over a mark adrift in third place on 69.389%. In yesterday’s Grand Prix B - Grade III, the Irish riders held the same positions, with Reilly once again breaking the 70% barrier on board Keystone Dawn Chorus. The Freestyle classes take place today, Saturday, for both the para classes and the CDI5* event, and further results will appear in next week’s edition.

Paul Ronan RIP

THE death has occurred of Paul Ronan (MFH) of Glengaddy, Fethard, Co Tipperary. Paul was a Master of the Tipperary Foxhounds, devoted husband of Jane, father of Jennifer, Paul, Kim and Mark and cherished “Grumps” to his two grandsons. Adored son of Dorothy and the late Thomas, and treasured brother of Pamela, Rosemary, Dorothy and Thomas. Funeral Mass today, February 21st, at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.