THE first qualifier for this year’s Horse Sport Ireland dressage autumn development series takes place at the Tipperary Equestrian Centre in Thurles next Sunday, October 24th, and it will be followed by four further qualifiers before the final is staged at Greenogue on Sunday, December 12th.

While classes range from Preliminary to Grand Prix, last year’s inaugural series resulted in a growing interest in young horse competitions, with the prize money on offer for Irish-breds being an added incentive for riders to source young horses, of any breed, who were foaled in this country.