Sweetnam seventh in the world

CORK native Shane Sweetnam, who scored another five-star win in Florida last week, has moved up to seventh in the Longines FEI world jumping rankings after a recent series of impressive results. He is joined by six of his compatriots in the top fifty, with Daniel Coyle the next best Irish rider in 15th, followed by Cian O’Connor (22nd), Darragh Kenny (33rd), Conor Swail (36th), Jordan Coyle (38th) and Bertram Allen (45th). Tipperary’s Tom Wachman now lies fourth in the world U25 rankings, while Star of the Month for March nominee Niamh McEvoy has moved up to 11th following a consistent run of form on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour.

Rohrssen is driving forwards

KRIS Rohrssen achieved the first of the two MER scores needed to qualify for this year’s world single horse championships, which will be held in Munchen-Riem, Germany, in September, when he finished 31st in the CAI3* class in Exloo, the Netherlands, recently. This marked Rohrssen’s debut at three-star level, as well as his first international start since the junior European championships in 2024. It was also a debut for his horse, Stan, who has made the switch to driving from dressage, and this obviously stood to the pair as they scored 52 in the dressage, well under the required 65. They completed with a secure cross country marathon drive and cones round. If they achieve a second qualifying score, it will be the first time Ireland has the option of sending an entry to the single horse world championships in 20 years.

Yard fire causes extensive damage

RTE reported that a fire caused extensive damage to a yard near Ballykelly in Co Wexford on Tuesday night, where one horse died while a number of others were removed to safety. A spokesman for Wexford County Fire Service said that three units and a water tanker attended the scene, and that firefighters worked into the early hours of the morning to bring the blaze under control.

“On arrival, a large hay shed containing straw, hay and agricultural machinery was involved in a substantial fire. The scene is currently under the control of the Gardai and subject to investigation, therefore we have no further comment at present” they added. It is understood that foul play is not suspected. The Irish Field understands the yard houses a mix of sport horses and thoroughbreds and is owned by a prominent local businessman.

Irish horses to new homes

ABI Lyle’s World Championship team partner Farrell, whom she owned in partnership with Fennella Quinn, has joined the string of British young rider Ruby Hughes. Lyle last competed Farrell internationally at Lier CDI4* in February, where they score 67.022% in the Grand Prix. Hughes took to social media to say “I’m feeling overwhelmingly grateful and excited to welcome Farrell to my team of horses,” and the combination have already won the U25 Grand Prix at Myerscough Premier League. Elsewhere, the Irish Sport Horse MGH Mr Messack, with whom Padraig McCarthy completed Pau CCI5* last year, has been posting strong results with his new rider Lucia Strini in the US. The Pointilliste-sired 11-year-old most recently finished ninth in the CCI3*S at Terra Nova.

Show like a pro

THE first episode of The Irish Field’s showing turn out series, produced in partnership with Ciara Mullen and Carr and Day and Martin, was released on Wednesday. In it, Mullen says that to be well turned out and to gain the full benefit of Carr & Day & Martin’s range of products, it’s important to start with a clean horse, and in her video she details exactly how to achieve that. Episode one is available on social media now, and further episodes will be released weekly in the run up to the Dublin Horse Show.

New podcast episode

THE latest episode of the Irish Army Equitation School’s centenary series has been released. In it, Michael Doherty speaks to Col Ned Campion. Visit the School’s social channels for a link to this episode and the previous four.