ONE of the best years in recent history for Irish-bred eventers has been crowned by the recently-released 2014 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horse (WBFSH) rankings, as the Irish Sport Horse (ISH) studbook has retained its number one place.

Only twice since the rankings inception in 1994 has any other WBFSH studbook (Hannoverian Verband in 2010 and Selle Francais in 2011) dislodged the ISH studbook from its top place. And although the French studbook led the penultimate August rankings after its strong performance at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, top-10 Burghley results by Bay My Hero and Improvise in September reversed the final order.