Tim Brennan voted Star of the Month

CONGRATULATIONS to 19-year-old Tim Brennan who was voted The Irish Field/Gain Equine Nutrition Star of the Month for March. Tim had a month to remember at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, when he won both the semi-final and final of the U25 series with the 10-year-old mare Diadema Della Caccia.

Lucy Latta ruled out of Badminton

LAST year’s Badminton Horse Trials runner-up Lucy Latta has withdrawn from this year’s competition which takes place in two weeks’ time from May 7th to 11th.

“Unfortunately, Paddy got a cut at home yesterday that required stitches. Thankfully he’s on the mend and will make a full recovery, it’s just truly terrible timing.

“We’re all gutted to not be returning after such a memorable experience in 2024,” Latta told The Irish Field.

Ireland still has 10 riders on the entry list.

Ian Cassells is now confirmed with Master Point after coming off the wait list, while Joseph Murphy’s Belline Fighting Spirit has also come off the wait list and he now has two horses confirmed.

Grooms to be rewarded at Balmoral

WITH Balmoral Show just around the corner (May 14th-17th), there is great news for grooms who are members of the Grooms’ Group who will be presenting generous prizes to their highest placed member in each of the following show jumping classes at the show: five-year-olds (£250, kindly sponsored by Lynsey Duffy); six/seven-year-olds (£250, kindly sponsored by Lynsey Duffy); 1.35m championship (£250, kindly sponsored by Dunlop Homes); Grand Prix (£500, kindly sponsored by Olive Clarke and Nicola Fitzgibbon).

The Grooms’ Group is also holding a raffle that will be drawn before the Grand Prix on Friday, May 16th. Prizes include a solarium, rug rack, vouchers for Tailored Equestrian, Amazon and Tollymore Beauty; show reel, voucher for stud fees, arena hire, holiday livery, lessons with Commandant Geoff Curran and Ian Fearon and many more! Tickets are £10.

For more information on the Grooms’ Group, membership or the raffle, contact Kathy, Tel: +44 (0)7732 741201 or thegroomsgroup2024@gmail.com

Noseband measuring device

THE FEI has introduced a noseband measuring device designed to enhance horse welfare and standardise assessments of noseband tightness at FEI events.

The device will be used by stewards at FEI competitions across all FEI disciplines to objectively control the tightness of a horse’s noseband from May 1st 2025. All equestrians, from riders to grooms and stable managers, can also acquire the easy-to-use device themselves to ensure their horse’s noseband is not too tight, and to ensure they comply with FEI rules.

“We are launching the device to make sure that our horses are always comfortable when competing,” explained Dr Gonçalo Paixão, FEI’s Senior Veterinary Manager.

“Assessing the tightness of nosebands is something that has been done for a long time, but before the stewards were using their fingers.

“We decided to modernise the process. This device is much more objective and consistent, so it means fairness for the horse and the athlete.”