AN opportunity missed is an opportunity lost so don’t miss out on your chance to gleam some expert tips from a cohort of the world’s top riders, breeders and sport horse producers.

An impressive line-up of top names takes centre stage at the upcoing day-long seminar hosted by the Show Jumpers Club at the Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare on Wednesday, January 21st next.

Entitled “Gallop Towards Olympic Success’’, the event is supported by Connolly’s Red Mills and partnered by The Irish Field.

Among the guest speakers are top riders Cameron Hanley and Trevor Breen, top international producer, Galway native Enda Carroll of Ashford Farm and noted European breeders Luc Henry and Jac Remijnse.

Drawing on their wealth of experience and proven success in the business over the years, they will address major topics such as pedigrees, producing horses correctly for competition and meeting market demands. A question and answer session will also be conducted.

The seminar day will also include talks on practical subjects such as yard management; drug regulations; equine transport, media and PR.

Irish Equine Centre experts Jim Kavanagh and Tom Buckley will deal with yard and drug management while the rules and regulations governing the changing world of equine transport will be addressed by Tiernan Gill.

Margaret Wilson will speak on the role of protein in the development of equine muscle and its link to show jumping ability while Brian Purcell will address PR and marketing for equestrians.

Entry to the Equine Hedge School seminar costs €50 per person with a 10% discount on offer to groups of 10 or more.

Booking and enquiries can be emailed to showjumpers2010@gmail.com

Carroll and Hanley head line-up of speakers

CAMERON HANLEY

Cameron Hanley has been one of the leading lights in Irish showjumping for many years.

From Claremorris in Mayo, Hanley burst onto the international scene in 2000 with a win in the Grand Prix of Ireland at the RDS. Since then, he has consistently been placed in the top 100 in the world rankings.

It has been well documented on how Hanley was absent from the sport for almost two years due to a devastating knee injury, however, he has returned stronger than ever.

For the 2015 Equine Hedge School, Hanley will be concentrating on the buying and producing horses for the international market along with Enda Carroll and Trevor Breen.

ENDA CARROLL

Based in Belgium at Ashford Farm, Enda Carroll is held in the highest regard by many of the biggest names of show jumping.

Originally from Galway, Carroll has made his name in buying and producing horses to international level before being sold and has some big name riders to back up his, already, very strong reputation.

With the likes of World Breeders Championship Gold Medal winner, Bertram Allen’s Barnike, Nations Cup regulars such as Cheyenne HDC ridden by Kevin Staut, Nice Stephanie with Penelope Leprovost and Cameron Hanley’s mount Living The Dream all making up just some of the names that have graduated from Ashford Farm.

Through his riders Marlon Zanotelli, Angelica Augustsson and Pieter Clemens, Ashford Farm horses are seen regularly on the international stage.

Buying and producing horses for the international market is something that Carroll has excelled in and this will form his discussion.

JAC REMIJNSE

Jac Remijnse runs Adelheid Showjumpers, a studfarm with the objective to breed international showjumping horses. His company Horse Genetics published a large number of books as well as the magazine Sport Horse Breeding.

The philosophy of Adelheid Showjumpers has been changed with the introduction of new showjumping lines. These new lines started in 1998 with the purchase of a mare from the famous Ascona family, followed in 2000 by the Libelle line and the Girl Z line and in 2010, the Fairness Z line.

Remijnse will be giving his views on the value of the male versus female lines in breeding.

LUC HENRY

Luc Henry will give his views on the modern showjumper.

Henry owns Stud Hero which offers breeding stock and sport horses from foals to Olympic prospects out of the best performance damlines in the world. He has been instrumental in the breeding of horses like Bogeno who was 12th in the Olympic Games in London and Urico who took part in the World Cup Finals in 2014 and is currently breeding with some of Liscalgot’s progeny.

He is part owner of Aganix Du Seigneur, ridden by Jos Lansink, which they believe will be his next Olympic showjumper.