ABBIE Walker did not have far to travel from Enfield in Co Meath to compete at the AIRC 35th anniversary Festival in Mullingar Equestrian but her journey proved to be a worthwhile one. She won The Irish Field Dressage to Music (RC N, RC E and RC M) class with the 17-year-old Westside Mirah gelding If Ever a Rogue for Rathangan Riding Club.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to win a class at the Festival for the first time,” said Abbie. “I studied the freestyle programmes of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and incorporated some of the movements into my floor plan. I selected music from The Greatest Showman, which really suits the personality of my horse and that is so important.

“If Ever a Rogue is so versatile, I only started riding side saddle last September and we placed second in the side saddle showing class here in Mullingar this weekend. Many thanks to my dressage trainers Francis Downes and Miia Ruuskanen.”

The aforementioned Irish-based Finnish rider Miia Ruuskanen continued her good form from the 2024 festival. With Liisa Rantamaki’s 15-year-old Lux Z Irish Sport Horse gelding Happy Gilmore, she claimed a win for Rathangan Riding Club at the 2025 renewal in The Irish Field Medium class, to add to their second place in the Equipeople RC 90 Handy Hunter showing class.

Young horse

Richard Hunter and the five-year-old Dodarde EZ gelding Grennanstown Exhibition won The Irish Field young horse class for Killcarrick Riding club on a 71.25% total. “This is a very good and versatile young horse,” said Richard.

“He has been placed in Eventing Ireland Amateur classes this year. His first time at the festival, he wins the young horse dressage and show jumping classes, third in the RC 100 jumping and was fifth in Section 2 of the RC P3 dressage. A great weekend; next we head to the RDS Dublin Horse Show Young Event Horse qualifier in Scarteen.”

Westport Riding Club claimed a win in the Fancy Dress Pairs class with Fiona Bourke (Ready Steady Freddie) and Liza McGowan (G. George) scoring 78.82%.