Readers’ competition

TO acknowledge the loyalty and support of readers throughout the pandemic, The Irish Field is giving away €4,000 worth of prizes in this week’s edition. Full details of the competition appear on page 18.

300 compete at IPC Minimus

THIS weekend just over 300 children are competing in the Auto Boland Jaguar and Land Rover/Irish Pony Club National Minimus in Co Kilkenny.

This evening (Saturday), the swimming phase takes place in the Watershed, Kilkenny city starting at 6pm. Tomorrow, the action moves to Nuenna Farm, Freshford where the running phase will get underway at 8am with the first competitor due to commence the ride phase at 10.30am.

There are 61 teams entered with three IPC teams starting in the home international which has also attracted a team from both Northern Ireland and Scotland. In all, there are 310 individual competitors, 81 of whom are entered in a special ‘Covid’ class as they missed out on their final year in minimus last season due to the pandemic.

Funding for Mayo equestrian trail

CONG in Co Mayo has received €35,000 in funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development for upgrades to support recreational facilities and outdoor tourism. Part of the funding will be allocated to a 500m new trail to facilitate equestrian access to the forest, as well as upgrades to 4kms of trails behind Cong Abbey.

Ballindenisk International

NUTRISCIENCE Equine Supplements has been unveiled as title sponsors at Ballindenisk International Horse Trials, which takes place from September 22nd to 26th. NutriScience is supporting both the four-star long and short classes, with serious competition in both classes for the final honours of the year.

On the title sponsorship Padge Whelan, NutriScience European Sales Manager, commented: “NutriScience are delighted to be title sponsors once again at Ballindenisk International. The sport of eventing is flourishing in Ireland and this sponsorship cements our support and commitment to the sport. We are looking forward to an exciting weekend of competitive, top level eventing.”

Dressage horse Ramoneur 6 dies

TANYA Seymour’s 19-year-old dressage horse Ramoneur 6 was put down earlier this week due to laminitis. The gelding was in Tokyo for the Olympic Games but was withdrawn before the competition and subsequently disagnosed with laminitis.

“We brought him home, and gave him 200% care but on Monday, suddenly things changed for the worse and I decided it was enough. He did not deserve this at the end of such an amazing career,” said Tanya, who made history at Rio in 2016 when she was the first dressage rider to represent South Africa at an Olympic Games.

Bella Rose undergoes colic surgery

ISABELL Werth’s Tokyo gold medal-winning mare Bella Rose underwent colic surgery this week. The 17-year-old mare, who was due to be retired at Aachen next week, is doing fine, according to Werth, who is competing at the FEI Dressage European Championships in Hagen where she won team gold and individual silver in the Grand Prix Special with Weihegold OLD.

Werth told the media that the mare is doing “fine” and “already eating grass. She will stay in the clinic a few days and if everything stays normal she can come home in a few days.”

Bella Rose won three gold medals at the 2019 European Championships, as well as team and individual gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.