THE first three qualifying rounds for the performance horse championships at Balmoral Show (September 22nd to 25th) were held in Northern Ireland with the opener being staged at Lusk Equestrian outside Lisburn on Sunday, July 11th.

These two performance championships for horses aged four and five and those aged six-year-old and upwards are being run this season in place of the young event horse championships but many of the rules remain the same (such as being confined to Irish-breds) while most of the riders compete on the eventing circuit.