THERE is always a wave of excitement as the beginning of the eventing season rolls around, with plans being made and qualification paths set out. This year however, the eventing calendar in the south of Ireland was thrown into disarray when a breakdown in communication between Eventing Ireland and event organisers led to events being cancelled or removed at short notice.
Disputes over insurance costs, financial viability and the lack of a dates planning meeting were some of the issues raised, but by early May, an agreement had been reached and the season got underway in the south.
On the international front, however, it was best hooves forward from the outset and, with a very pleasing number of five-star and championship medals coming back to Irish soil, it was a year to remember.
European Championships
A 30-year European team medal drought was ended at the senior Agria FEI European Eventing Championships this year at Blenheim Palace. The team of Aoife Clark, Ian Cassells, Padraig McCarthy and Robbie Kearns claimed a historic team silver with chef d’equipe Dag Albert.
A “quietly confident” team lined up at the beginning of the week and, with respectable performances from all combinations in the first phase, the feeling was that the Captain Mark Phillips-designed track was going to be influential. With three clear jumping rounds from Cassells on Millridge Atlantis (ISH), McCarthy on Pomp N Circumstance, and Kearns on Chance Encounter VII (ISH) (TIH), the team rose from seventh place after phase one up to the silver medal position. Aoife Clark and Full Monty De Lacense were eliminated on course after a fall, leaving Ireland in a precarious spot with only three members to show jump on the final day. The pressure was on going into the final phase,with both the Swiss and French teams within a small margin of silver.
McCarthy and the 11-year-old Pomp N Circumstance jumped a spectacular clear round to keep the team in contention. Kearns and Richard Ames’ Creevagh Grey Rebel-sired gelding tipped just one pole and ended up one second over the time to leave them on a total score of 56.9 penalties. Best of the Irish after cross-country in 10th position, Cassells and the Dinan Cascaletto-sired Millridge Atlantis were last in the arena for team Ireland. They held their nerve, adding just 6.8 penalties to their score to secure the silver medal for team Ireland. Speaking afterwards, Albert had high praise for his team, but also for the owners and support staff around them, saying: “It’s a huge team effort and this one is for everyone.”
In the overall individual standings, four of the Irish placed inside the top 20, with McCarthy and Pomp N Circumstance leading the way in 12th, as Cassells and Millridge Atlantis sat just behind in 14th. Individual rider Sarah Ennis and Dorough Ferro Class Act (ISH) were one place back in 15th and Kearns, on his senior championship debut, finished 18th on Chance Encounter.
Padraig McCarthy celebrates a clear round with Pomp N Circumstance during the show jumping phase at the FEI Eventing European Championship 2025 \ FEI/Benjamin Clark
Young horse championships
A European silver medal wasn’t enough for Cassells’ trophy cabinet for this year and he went on to add two more medals at the World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers in October. In the six-year-old section, Cassells steered Patrick Murphy’s Casallco mare Rutland Flamenco (ISH) to take silver, finishing on their dressage score of 28.9. Sitting in eighth after phase one, this combination continued to rise after two faultless jumping rounds.
The success kept coming for the 31-year-old, this time with the seven-year-old Noa W (KWPN), owned by Nuala McDonald. A little further off the pace after dressage, sitting just outside the top 30, there was more work to be done, but after a tough day on the cross-country track, they climbed the leaderboard to eighth before the final phase. One second over the optimum added just 0.4 for time to secure the bronze medal.
Brookfield Danny de Muze (ISH), bred by Donal Callery, was the seven-year-old champion with Tom McEwen (GBR). Another Irish-bred horse, Tykillen Tango, bred by Ciara Kinsella, took bronze with Hallie Coon (USA) in the six-year-old championship.
Five-stars
The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is the first five-star on the calendar and it was Michael Jung’s familiar face on top of the podium once again at CCI5*-L level. This time partnered with Fischerchipmunk FRH (HANN), Jung achieved an untouchable dressage score of 18.6 penalties, nearly eight marks ahead of their closest rivals, American rider Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Jung added cross-country time penalties, as well as one rail in the show jumping, but his initial margin couldn’t be caught and he was crowned champion once again. Brookfield Quality (ISH), a 16-year-old gelding by OBOS Quality 004, was the highest-placed Irish-bred horse in fifth place.
Austin O'Connor and Colorado Blue were third at Badminton Horse Trials 2025 \ Nigel Goddard
The MARS Badminton Horse Trials result came down to very fine margins, but it was Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo who were crowned the winners after completing on their dressage score of 25.3. Cooley Rosalent (ISH), the 11-year-old by Valent, was the overnight leader after two phases on a score of 22.3, but a pole on the final day dropped them to second. The winner of last year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event came agonisingly close to claiming another CCI5*-L title. Irish eyes were smiling on Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, as they climbed from 20th after dressage into the top five after a brilliant cross-country round on Saturday. Bred by Mrs Kate Jarvey and owned by The Salty Syndicate, Colorado Blue added another five-star podium to his record when finishing third. Cavalier Crystal, a 15-year-old Irish-bred horse by Jack Of Diamonds, ridden by Harry Meade, finished in fourth place.
Canter’s domination of five-star events was to continue as she added the Luhmühlen CCI5*-L title to her name, this time with the talented yet challenging Izilot DHI (KWPN). Now 12 years old, he has been far from simple to produce, but in true Canter fashion, she has managed to bring out the best in the gifted gelding.
Samantha Lissington put in a great performance with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ to finish less than a mark behind in second place, a first time on the podium and her best performance at this level to date. Eventual European Champion London 52 and Laura Collet took third, their fourth podium at this level. The Irish Sport horse Highly Suspicious, ridden by American rider Cosby Green, finished fourth, adding just 0.4 time penalties in the show jumping phase to finish on 35 penalties.
Canter’s dominance continued at the Defender Burghley CCI5*-L, where it looked to be a rematch between Cooley Rosalent, Colorado Blue and Lordships Graffalo. Townend and Rosalent took the lead after dressage once again, but with problems on the cross-country course, they dropped out of contention leaving Canter, and the much-loved Lordships Graffalo, at the top of the leaderboard on the final day. Delivering on the big days has become something we expect, but never take for granted, from Colorado Blue and Austin O’Connor, so to see them standing on another five-star podium is just reward for both the hard work and the talent of this combination. Speaking afterwards, O’Connor remarked: “It’s been an amazing experience this week. The Badmintons and Burghleys, they’re the biggest and most iconic events in the world. It’s what I dreamed of growing up, and to be here on the podium is amazing.”
In its fifth year, the MARS Maryland five-star at Fair Hill had a new cross-country course designer at its helm. Pierre Le Goupil certainly put his mark on the cross-country track, which was previously designed by Ian Stark; just 13 from the starting 22 completed the course. Felix Vogg made history by winning with Cartania as the only Swiss rider to win two five-star events. In second place after cross-country, they added just 0.4 time penalties to put the pressure on the overnight leader, Monica Spencer and the thoroughbred, Artist, who had to settle for eventual second after two fences fell in the show jumping phase.
The final five-star on the calendar saw Tim Price (NZL), riding Jarillo, claiming victory at the Pau CCI5* - his second victory at the same venue and his sixth CCI5*-L win overall. The event was marked by unpredictable weather, prompting schedule adjustments and making for a demanding cross-country test. Price and Jarillo were fourth after dressage with a 26.5, then produced a strong cross-country round, adding 4.4 time penalties to move into contention.
A clear show jumping round under pressure, secured the top spot among a tight leaderboard. Plot Twist B (ISH) and Tom Jackson (GBR) were hot on their heels taking second place, their best result at this level. Another Irish Sport Horse, Cooley Nutcracker, took third place with American rider Boyd Martin. Padraig McCarthy and Lady Ophelia were the highest-placed Irish combination in 15th place.