THE aim of the Youngster Tour 2020 was to build confidence, increase the experience and showcase young horses of many levels in a professional environment.

A fantastic weekend of jumping at the finals in Mullingar proved that this aim was not just achieved, but surpassed, with a huge amount of interest and participation at every round of the league throughout the country.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Grand Prix rider Ger O’Neill gave his thoughts: “Some horses are just not ready to take on the challenge of the Horse Sport Ireland classes, the fences can be bigger and the tracks more technical, and although it is a fabulous series, sometimes they are just a step too far for some horses.

“For these animals and riders, the Youngster Tour provided a much needed competition which allowed the greener horses gain experience in the ring without over-facing them. I think it is a fantastic initiative and I certainly saw horses and riders that I had never seen before.

“It allowed horses that are maybe suited more to the leisure market to come to the fore and be exposed to, not only a professional arena, but also to a new audience of potential buyers.

“I think that riders will now have horses which they will be preparing specifically for the Youngster Tour next year, so if you consider the tour as a new way to market young horses towards a relatively untapped market it has been a big success.”

Superb format

Tour director Oonagh Kennedy commented: ‘‘Not all horses will jump to five-star level but there is a job and a five-star home for every horse to do a job.

“Many horses that have had no showcase for many years were given that opportunity during the Tour. It was also a superb format to get marketing videos and if a horse was for sale, it is given a fair chance to find a direct customer.

“One of the main aims of the Tour was to produce rideable, brave, saleable horses and highlight Irish pedigrees. The standard of riding was amazing, the level of equitation and turnout was also exceptional.

“We saw a selection of top-class horses for many fields, potential top showjumpers, eventers, and animals suitable for the amateur-owner, hunter jumper and equitation classes in the USA. The Tour proved that there is a huge appetite for an event like this. We had over 900 Irish Sport Horses ranging from four to eight years that jumped on the Tour.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors; HSI, Jim Derwin Equestrian, Orpen Horses USA, JS Horsetrucks, Killossery Lodge, Paul O’Shea, Linda Courtney and David Blake.

“Looking forward to next year, I have already been approached by new sponsors to come on board for 2021 which is fantastic. We have begun planning and hope that, Covid permitting, we will run from the end of April to September.

Great support

“From the very start Robert Fagan, Horse Sport Ireland and Showjumping Ireland embraced the concept of the tour. The equestrian centres also took a leap of faith and we had over 20 super shows in such a short lead up to the Grand Finals.

“On a personal note I am very grateful for the opportunity to fulfill a longtime dream of running the Tour, and I am very mindful of the faith that was extended to me during the year by so many people,” Kennedy concluded.