THE small event horse class at the Dublin Horse Show has been cancelled for 2019 to be replaced with one for horses of the same age (five to seven) but with no height restriction and to be produced by a rider under 25.

One of the reasons given for this change is that there are no national or international event competitions restricted to horses’ height but there are classes at both levels for Juniors and Young Riders.

Details of the class format over two days in August still have to be decided, as does the method of qualifying at the Young Event-Horse Series venues, but the final format will be more in line with that used in the young event horse classes at Dublin rather than has been the case in the past.

Linda Murphy, who competed in the small event horse class for the past four years, winning twice, was disappointed with the news. “I liked the class, although the optimum time used at the qualifiers brought it all down to luck really,” commented the Co Wexford rider/producer.

“It was a good way to market a small horse to the young rider/amateur eventing circuit.

“I’m disappointed as we had a couple of five-year-olds here ourselves that I was going to aim at the class but I’m more disappointed for Susan [Fitzpatrick] as she was looking forward to going back to Dublin with last year’s winner, Sam Salad, who I’ve been hunting away all winter. We’ll have to look at something else to do with them now.

“On the plus side, it’s probably a good idea to have an event-type class for young riders, bringing it in line with the show jumping sector of the show,” concluded Murphy, who would be excluded on age grounds this year as would three of the four riders behind her in the line-up last August.

The fourth, Christine O’Donnell, who finished second on Jim Doyle’s home-bred Metalbridge Liath, became ineligible when eventing at international three-star level in Millstreet shortly after Dublin.

DISAPPOINTED

Murphy wasn’t the only one with the small event horse class in mind for some of their horses as Diarmuid Ryan, who finished fourth last year on Louise Lyons and Paulette Cooper’s Dartans Gruvy Baby, was already schooling horses for the first qualifier when learning of the cancellation.

“Yes, I am disappointed because, as far as I’m concerned, the class really did its job of marketing the small, blood-type horse,” stated the Graiguenamanagh veterinary surgeon.

“Both the mare I rode and the mare Christine O’Donnell finished second on were sold and I’m sure others in the class were too. It’s a pity they didn’t decide this after last year’s show, before people had purchased horses for this year.”

The Ardeo Sport Horses team of Neil and Melanie Wrynn have always targeted the small event horse class for themselves or their clients with Ardeo Dime and Ardeo Illusion finishing first and second in 2015 under owners Jodie Ronan and Leila Barker respectively.

From their new base outside Newcastle, Co Wicklow, Melanie commented: “I’m sorry to learn that the class won’t be held this year.

“I love a small event horse myself as they are so well balanced and don’t need as much work as a big horse. Many of those I coach ride a small horse and I would have always encouraged them to earmark this class.

“We wouldn’t be stuck for a young rider as regards the new age limit, and it would be good for them to ride under pressure at Dublin, but would there be any point in putting a small horse in against the taller ones?”

First staged in 2011 when Emily Taylor topped the line-up with the thoroughbred Small And Mighty, the small event horse class was won twice by last year’s World Equestrian Games eventing team silver medallist, Cathal Daniels.

In 2013, the Co Galway native claimed the honours with John Craig’s home-bred Kilrodan Queen B, who went on to compete at international two-star level, while the following year Daniels again joined forces with the Co Tipperary owner/breeder to win with another mare, Kilrodan Sailorette (CCI2*).