Short Teagasc courses

TEAGASC Equine Specialists is offering two short courses for the autumn/winter period, both provided as blended learning formats (Zoom classes and On Farm Workshop). An equine breeding /reproduction course commences on October 25th while an equine health management course follows on November 17th. More information on these is available online at https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/rural-development/equine/training.

Connemara Pony Sales

WITH 930 lots, the Connemara Pony Sales have extended their annual October sale to five days, taking place from Thursday, October 27th to Monday, October 31st next. Thursday and Friday sees the majority of geldings go through the ring, while the remaining days see large numbers of colts and fillies pass through. For more information see www.connemaraponysales.com.

Miebello retired

MARK McAuley’s great show jumping partner Miebello has been retired aged 18. Bred by Johan Lundh who started him in the sport, Mark’s wife Charlotte McAuley took over the ride on the Flyinge Quite Easy 958-sired gelding in early 2016 when he was 12. In 2017, when Charlotte was expected her first baby, Mark took over the reins and the pair had huge success together.

Among their top moments was victory in the 1.60m World Cup of Lyon and the 2019 Speed Derby at the five-star Dublin Horse Show. The pair jumped on numerous Nations Cup teams for Ireland, including the Aga Khan in 2017.

Maryland five-star

THE five-star Maryland Horse Trials is underway in Fair Hills, USA. A small field of just 24 started at the event, one of just seven five-star horse trials in the world and the second last of the season, with Pau still to come later this month. There are no Irish athletes competing at the event and just two British riders – Harry Meade and Oliver Townend – made the trip.

After Thursday’s first day of dressage, with half the field gone, it was USA’s Woods Baughman in the lead on a score of 27.2 with C’est la Vie 135. There are a number of Irish Sport Horses in the field, including the pre-competition favourite Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Creggan Diamond), bred by Alan O’Brien and ridden by Liz Halliday-Sharp.

There will be a full report in next week’s paper.