THE curtain has come down on 2017 and hopefully most will look forward to a good year ahead. With any end of year review we naturally focus on what is happing in the worlds of breeding, racing and the sport horse sector.

It has been a year of many highs, and some lows, but if one was asked to rate the year from a sport and business perspective, the grade that would probably be given to it would be a B+. There is room for improvement, and without that we would have nothing to strive for. Maintaining the status quo is never enough.

European gold for our show jumpers and 28 Group or Grade 1 wins for Aidan O’Brien are two easy achievements to pick out and celebrate as the best of the year. There were many others, too many to list without offending someone.

There are challenges, not least Brexit which not only has the potential to affect our business in a negative way, but it will have far more wide-ranging impacts on our lives in general. It is one of the most complex conundrums ever facing our political leaders, at home and in Europe, and has the potential to cause huge disruption.

At the heart of this – our sport, business and life – is you and me. In order to function well on a daily basis, in both our personal and professional lives, we need to be well. At the core is our mental wellbeing, something that we address on page A12 with some simple but effective suggestions.

Earlier this year, in association with Devenish Nutrition, we initiated a fortnightly health column, and to say that the reaction to it has astounded me would be an understatement. Why has there been such a response? Simply because mental illness touches each and every family on this island, and beyond.

The impetus behind the introduction of the health column was to cover many aspects of our lives that can be improved, but with a special emphasis on mental wellbeing. It is being, and will be, revisited time and again, and it is right that it should be. National weeks and days to highlight the issue are well and good, and welcome, but this is a year round issue and The Irish Field will keep it to the fore.

Happy New Year to you all, and keep an eye on your neighbour and friend. Reach out to them if they need help.