THE first of the 2025 IDHBA Branch Shows took place in Punchestown on Easter Monday organised by the Kildare IDHBA Branch under new chairperson Una Holohan.

There were seven youngsters in the opening class, the ridden four and five-year-olds before judges Ms Alice Copithorne (Cork) and Mr Darragh Duggan (Westmeath), both commenting on how obedient these young horses were.

Judith Long’s five-year-old gelding Abbeyward Max took the win. By Castleview Inisfree Farmer he went on to be Reserve Champion ridden horse later in the morning. Second went to Tom and Maria McNamara with Shanbally Master.

In the six-year-old and upwards class, a quality line up of 14 horses were put through their paces. The judges ultimately deemed Florence Brown’s A Hero’s Welcome the winner on the day. Alpha, as he is known at home, showed himself to be a true showman and displayed an excellent example of a free moving Draught with some impressive rein changes during the go-round. The partnership went on to be Ridden Champion and later Supreme Champion of the show. Second place went to Fionnuala Lennon’s Tallyho McGuire and best mare went to Tracy Piggott’s Graigeaverne Rose who placed third.

A very well presented 85cm and 1m working hunter course was ideal prep for those looking for a challenge to get horses ready for the many qualifiers on the calendar.

Louise and Aideen McCormack’s Castana Sky, a mare by Welcome Emperor, won the first class. Barry Higgins partnered ‘Little Legs’ who went on to be working hunter champion and then Reserve Supreme, starting off her year in great style beating a quality field with several Dublin regulars. Chris Carter and Damien McCormack’s Cloonan Hector, ridden by Zohra Smyth, claimed second while third went to Michelle Lucey’s Bouncers Son, ridden by Hazel Valentine.

The 90cm/1m class was won by Grace Kavanagh riding Mountain Emerald. Second was Ailish Holohan’s six-year-old mare Good Handsel, ridden by Deirdre Rafter, who went on to be Reserve Champion working hunter.

Prize money of €2,500 in all for the Irish Draught classes was mainly funded by the Breeding Grant Initiative, under the National Breeding Services with thanks to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and delivered by Horse Sport Ireland and the Kildare IDHBA.

Two derby classes wrapped up the day, allowing Draughts and non-Draughts to compete over the working hunter course in a timed competition. The 80cm class was won by Chris Carter’s Cloonan Hector and the 1m class won by Katie Stafford’s Dennistown Prince of Pride expertly ridden by Kate Walsh.