DRESSAGE Ireland’s High Performance Pony Dressage Squad fielded four riders at last weekend’s Addington CDIP in Britain. All of these riders were making their international debuts in the hunt for European Championship team qualification, which they secured in last Friday’s team test.

A member of HSI’s debut pony dressage team at last year’s Europeans, Katie Burns once again led the Irish challenge in last Saturday’s individual test with Caracas II. The Alison Mastin Moore-trained rider finished 17th on 63.415%, enough to earn her a place in the freestyle. With April Allen’s 17-year-old mare Tisrara Hill, Emily Kate Robinson earned 61.585% from the ground jury and was unlucky not to qualify for the freestyle, finishing just outside the cut in 18th place. Roisin Muirhead and Dunsallen also improved from their first day’s score to earn 59.512%. This combination came close to securing the 60% needed to qualify for the European Championships. Having secured her qualifying mark in last Friday’s team test, reigning pony Silver Spurs Champion Sofie Walshe had a difficult ride in the individual test with Loughfadda Horseleap Bruno, resulting in a mark of 57.805%.