The Irish Field competition winner

RACHEL Stewart from Co Longford is the lucky winner of the free-to-enter competition open to all visitors to The Irish Field’s stand at the Dublin Horse Show. Rachel wins an Irish Champions Festival VIP package, which includes lunch for two at Leopardstown on September 13th and two passes to the Winning Line lounge at the Curragh on September 14th. Thanks who all who entered.

Treo Eile appoints CEO

TREO Eile, the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting thoroughbred racehorses in their transition to second careers, has announced the appointment of Andrea Ryan as its new Chief Executive Officer. She will take up the role on September 1st. Andrea has worked at Kilcash Equine Clinic in Clonmel, Co Tipperary for almost 18 years and has also worked for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as a veterinary inspector in the meat industry for a number of years. Speaking about her new role, Andrea said: “Throughout my career as an equine vet, I have always admired the courage, stamina and temperament of thoroughbreds, and so I am delighted to get the opportunity to join the team at Treo Eile.”

DAFM Eventing series

OWNERS of eligible seven-year-old horses competing at Eventing Ireland fixtures are encouraged to complete an online Application/Expression of Interest form for entry into this year’s DAFM Eventing Studbook Series. As it stands, owners/producers of eligible five and six-year-old horses have really embraced the process, but only nine seven-year-olds are listed on the league pages of the Eventing Ireland website. At present the leaderboard is topped by the Richard Ames-owned Irish Sport Horse gelding Belline Castle ONR Candy who won the EI115 at Loughanmore last Saturday week under Patrick Byrne.

For all age groups, this year’s league is incorporated into the existing EI framework of classes - they are not standalone competitions - and the league runs up to and includes the final EI one-day event of the season at Frankfort Stud on Sunday, September 21st.

Connemara Sales graduate class

OUGHTERARD Show in Co Galway is playing host to a new class for graduates of the Connemara Pony Sales Clifden. The class, which boasts a prize fund of €3,000, is restricted to ponies sold through the Connemara Pony Sales, aged four and above (with riders over 12) and they must have competed in at least three competitions before the show on August 31st, 2025. Rules state that a proof of sale is required, along with a short history on the pony upon entry. The winner will receive the lucrative first prize of €2,000.

CPW Search for a Star

THE countdown is on for the Connemara Pony World Search for a Star Championship, set for Sunday, September 14th at Barnadown Equestrian in Co Wexford, held in conjunction with the Irish Pony Society Hunter Show. Pine View Ice Cool, a past Search for a Star winner, proved the value of this platform by going on to win the five to seven-year-old Connemara Performance Hunter at the Dublin Horse Show last week.

The championship features a four-year-old (85cm), five-year-old (95cm) and a new novice ridden championship for four and five-year-olds. A prize fund of €4,000 is on offer, thanks to support from Horse Sport Ireland. For further details or to enter, contact Lucinda at 087 9048328 or send a private message to the Connemara Pony World Facebook page.