THE sole male exhibition rider at next Saturday’s Dressage Ireland judges’ gala at Kildalton College is Gerald Bloomer, a Horse Sport Ireland Level 3 coach in eventing and dressage and Team Ireland dressage coach to the Junior eventing team.

Bloomer is due to ride Ready To Shine AVO, a five-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Las Vegas out of Vinesse AVO (by Ronaldo) who herself was awarded premium elite status as a dressage breeding mare by the KWPN.

‘Absolute gent’

“I got Leo as a three-year-old,” revealed Bloomer. “He is an absolute gent to deal with in every respect but was a bit of a nervous insecure character so we have taken him slowly.

“He did his first show in November 2025 and, in 2026, won Preliminary Championships at the Botanica Leinster Dressage Festival at Coilog, the Nutri Science Classic Festival at Barnadown and the National Dressage Championships at Necarne Castle.

“As he is such a tall horse, I want to give him the time that he needs but hope to head to the UK to train this winter and look forward to moving up to Novice and later Elementary level in 2027.”

Slieve Bloom Stud’s Sophia Doheny is another of the exhibition riders at next Saturday’s Dressage Ireland judges’ gala at Kildalton College.

The 18-year-old will be riding the year-younger Jackson Van De Lettencourter, a dark brown Belgian Warmblood gelding by Lord Leatherdale out of Farah v/h Bladerenkwartier (by Fiderhit) out of Britt Van Het Bladerenkwartier (by Renoir).

Doheny is competing at Small Tour level with ‘Jackson’ who she describes as a “really kind natured horse who always gives his best.”

Young rider

Another 18-year-old rider who will be coming under scrutiny at next Saturday’s Dressage Ireland judges’ gala in Kildalton College is Co Mayo’s Rebecca McGrath.

Based at the Ballyjennings Stables of her parents Fintan and Sinead, McGrath rides the 14-year-old British Hanoverian mare Summersong Caledonia (Sandro HIT – Donner Daylight, by Don Schufro). This partnership was established less than 12 months ago and did their first Junior competition in January.

They competed internationally at Junior level this year in Hagen and Wellington, finishing in the top 10 at the latter venue.

The guest presenter at next Saturday’s gala, which has been organised by the judges’ committee of Dressage Ireland, is the 5* FEI Olympic judge Karrina Wuest who will speak on ‘Principles in practice - how to arrive at a mark’.