DRESSAGE Ireland’s National Championships provided Kate Kerr Horan and Arlande with a good prep run ahead of the European Para-Dressage Championships, which will be held in Deauville later this month. The levels of participation in para-dressage are growing year on year, and competitors of all grades contested these classes at Cavan. Louise Greer, Geraldine Lowry and Jo-Anne Gibson won championship titles at Grade Ib, III and IV respectively, while Kerr Horan’s high score of 66.091% at Grade II saw her take the overall title of Para National Champion.

Speaking after the championships, Kerr Horan noted that it was particularly beneficial to have two international para-dressage judges present in Cavan, in Hanneke Gerritsen and Carlos Lopes. Regarding her own performance, she said: “The Nationals provided us with a great chance to iron out any problems we were having ahead of the Europeans. I was very happy with how my horse went, and I hope it’s a sign of things to come.”

Kerr Horan, who also represented Ireland at WEG last year, will be joined by her team mates Helen Kearney, Breda Bernie and Rosemary Gaffney in Deauville, while Kathryn Gallagher will compete as an individual.