DRESSAGE Ireland’s National Championships provided Kate Kerr Horan and Arlande with a good prep run ahead of the European Para-Dressage Championships, which will be held in Deauville later this month. The levels of participation in para-dressage are growing year on year, and competitors of all grades contested these classes at Cavan. Louise Greer, Geraldine Lowry and Jo-Anne Gibson won championship titles at Grade Ib, III and IV respectively, while Kerr Horan’s high score of 66.091% at Grade II saw her take the overall title of Para National Champion.

Speaking after the championships, Kerr Horan noted that it was particularly beneficial to have two international para-dressage judges present in Cavan, in Hanneke Gerritsen and Carlos Lopes. Regarding her own performance, she said: “The Nationals provided us with a great chance to iron out any problems we were having ahead of the Europeans. I was very happy with how my horse went, and I hope it’s a sign of things to come.”