Madam,

Traditional Irish Horses ruled supreme at the RDS International Horse Show 2016. The trend was set when Pat Loughlin’s five-year-old liver chesnut Irish Draught gelding Fort Knocks won his class before going on to win the heavyweight champion and ultimately the supreme championship. He was accompanied by Derry Rothwell’s superb big bay mare Green Hall Wishing Well.

Traditional Irish breeding success continued with champion and reserve champion in best hunter mare class, champion and reserve champion in best hunter broodmare class, champion and reserve champion small hunter, together with winner and reserve of the breeders championship. This was rounded-off by the huge win of the young horse championship and the magnificent RDS trophy by Timothy Martin’s yearling brown gelding Superior Choice by Emperor Augustus, bred by Des Noctor, with Keith Walsh’s two-year-old bay gelding ‘The Master’s Choice’ by Kings Master, bred by Noreen Maher occupying reserve young horse champion.

It was a field day for Traditional Irish Breeding! A huge thank you to Pat Hanly and the RDS for providing such a wonderful platform for breeders, owners and producers to showcase the best of traditional Irish breeding in what is one of the most prestigious stages in the equine world.

Yours etc

Hugh Leonard

Chairman

Traditional Irish Horse Association