Alderson injured
PILTOWN-based British international event rider Daniel Alderson is said to be very sore but in improving form following injuries he received in a schooling fall on Monday.
The 24-year-old, who broke all his ribs, had internal bleeding, dislocated his shoulder, fractured his collarbone and suffered concussion, spent the best part of two days in intensive care in Waterford Regional hospital.
He was released into a general surgical ward on Wednesday and, unbelievable as it seems, could be out of hospital on Monday.
“He was well smashed up,” said Richard Ames, Alderson’s boss at Belline Equestrian. “He is chatty and chirpy and in good form. He was very lucky but it’s going to be a couple of months at least before he has recovered fully from his injuries. The fall, which wasn’t from one of our own horses but one he was schooling for a friend, couldn’t have come at a worse time for Daniel as all the work he had done over the winter and spring with the young horses was really paying off and he had three horses entered for Kilguilkey this weekend.”
McCarthy stars
Congratulations to Tipperary international event rider Padraig McCarthy who was voted the Gain Equine Nutrition/The Irish Field Star of the Month for May.
New UK laws
DEFRA has announced the introduction of new legislation around the identification of horses, ponies and donkeys in England.
Horse owners have been given two years to get all of their horses identified, including microchipped if not already done, or face penalties.
Previously microchipping was already a UK requirement for all equines born after June 30th 2009.
The new legislation brings in retrospective microchipping and also for the first time, details of horses and owners will be kept on a new Central Equine Database.
Events postponed
IT’s either too hot or too cold! Several equestrian events have now been postponed on welfare grounds including the Irish Pony Society Combined Training Final scheduled for Raheen-na-Gun on July 4th. It will be held at a later date. Also postponed is the Tattersalls Area 7 One Day Event this weekend (Sunday, July 1st), due to ground conditions. However, there will be plenty of action going on at the National Hound Show in Stradbally tomorrow (Sunday, July 1st).
Results correction
RECENT results published for the Irish Pony Club trip to Kelso, Scotland, were incorrect. The correct result was that the Irish green mixed team placed second while the Irish white boys team were third. The two Irish boys that received rosettes for clear rounds were Sean Duggan Alfred and Andrew Hensen.
Alfonso Arango RIP
SPANISH international rider Alfonso Arango (62) died this week from injuries received in a horse-riding fall some weeks ago.
A father of two, Alfonso Arango’s last big international win came recently at the Global Champions Tour of Madrid. Arango enjoyed many top drawer wins in a career, winning many national Spanish championship titles.
Free EAGALA demonstration
Ireland’s first free EAGALA demonstration will be held at Co Clare’s Castlefergus Equestrian Centre on Wednesday, July 4th from 10.30am-12.30pm.
EAGALA (Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association) is the leading international non-profit professional organisation incorporating horses to address mental health and personal development needs.
With over 640 regional programs, and more than 2,500 certified members in over 40 countries, EAGALA has been setting the global standard for equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development since 1999.
All activities are ground-based (no horse-riding involved).For more information, www.castlefergusequestrian.com or www.eagala.org/find
ISPCA Report
THE ISPCA Annual Report 2017 was released this week and, due to pressures of space, will be carried in next week’s issue.