HORSE Sport Ireland this week announced the selection criteria for the World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium, where Comdt John Ledingham will once again act as chef d’equipe, despite calling time on his role with the underage teams.

A total of 15 horses will travel to Lanaken to represent the Irish WBFSH Studbooks – five five-year-old, five six-year-olds, and five seven-year-olds. The selection process will remain the same as last season, which caused some consternation due to riders and owners not realising selection was no longer based on the results of the ISH Studbook Series.

The top two horses from the five-year-old championship and the six-year-old championship at the Dublin Horse Show will automatically be selected, while the remaining three horses will be selected by Comdt Ledingham based on performances in all FEI, SJI and other relevant competitions. In addition, two reserves in both age categories will be named.

In the seven-year-old age category, the top horse form the seven-year-old championship at the RDS will travel, and the remaining four will be selected by the chef d’equipe, based on performances and the combinations he believes will best represent the Irish studbooks.

The championships will take place from September 21st to 24th, 2017.