IT’s Christmas week and what a year we have all had in Irish Horse World, one of the most successful years on record for Irish equestrian sport – in all disciplines – as we head into an Olympic year with an unprecedented three teams qualified in Eventing, Dressage and Show Jumping for Tokyo 2020. We look forward to bringing you all the action as it unfolds.

This week we feature the story of brave Katelyn Reilly (5) who tragically lost her fight to leukaemia. Nothing gave this little girl joy like riding her beloved pony, Trevor, around Cavan Equestrian Centre’s lead rein course.

If you can support her family’s bid to raise some funds for their three chosen worthy causes of St John’s Ward in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, the Laura Lynn Foundation and Cavan General Hospital’s paediatrics, they would be very grateful.

Festive joy

We have enjoyed great support from our loyal readers, and advertisers, across all sectors in 2019 for which we are truly grateful and appreciative of. We wish you, your families – and of course, your horses and ponies, the stars of the whole show – a very happy Christmas and New Year in 2020.

We better all hold onto our hats – it’s going to be a roller coaster year in 2020!