THE Irish Sport Horse (ISH) studbook has recorded one of its best results to date in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) annual rankings, released this week.

During each WBFSH calendar year (October-September), points earned by each member studbook’s top half-dozen horses count towards the studbook rankings.

Not only has the ISH studbook regained its leading title in eventing, its best six show jumping horses all feature within the top-100, a sign of the resurgence in Irish breeding.

This year’s best ISH event horses are headed by US team horse Off The Record (Fifth in the individual rankings. VDL Arkansas - Drumgoland Bay, by Ard Ohio. Breeder: Peter G. Brady); Vanir Kamira (Sixth. Camiro de Haar Z - Fair Caledonian, by Dixi. Kate Jackson); Cooley Quicksilver (13th. Womanizer - Kylemore Crystal, by Creggan Diamond. Alan O’Brien); Ballaghmor Class (14th. Courage II - Kilderry Place. Noel Hickey); Leamore Master Plan (18th. Master Imp - Ardragh Bash, by Cavalier Royale. Michael Byrne) and Capels Hollow Drift (23rd. Shannondale Sarco - Lucky Crest, by Lucky Gift. Jenny Glynn).

The ISH studbook has maintained its top 10 placing for show jumping horses, having had the same position in 2021. The Aga Khan-winning horse James Kann Cruz (37th. Kannan - CSF Telly Cruz, by Cruising. Patrick Connolly) leads the best six Irish Sport Horses in the show jumping results, followed by HHS Calais (73rd. Cavalier Royale - MHS OBOS Cruise, by O.B.O.S Quality. Ita Brennan); BBS McGregor (81st. Cardento - Random Chance, by Mark Twain. Marguerite Ryan); Pacino Amiro (83rd. Pacino - Carnone Dancing Queen, by NC Amiro. Simon Scott); Sea Topblue (86th. Chacco-Blue - Sea Top Lady, by Lux Z. Breeder: James & John Meade) and FTS Killossery Konfusion (92nd. SIEC Livello - Killossery Kruisette, by Cruising. Breeder: Frank and Laura Glynn).

Delighted

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Off The Record’s breeder Peter Brady told The Irish Field this week. From Drumgoland, Co Cavan, he had travelled to Pratoni del Vivaro to watch the horse compete at the world eventing championships last month.

Off The Record and rider Will Coleman finished seventh and best of the USA silver medal-winning team.

“The horse was going well throughout the year and he was great in Italy. I thought that was fantastic, how well he went there, but then for this news? This is another step. It’s a boost to your morale, seeing something you bred do well and along with that, I get enquiries about horses I’d have for sale.”

Unbelievable

“It’s unbelievable to have bred a horse like James Kann Cruz. He just never disappoints,” said Patrick Connolly, who has built up the family-run Connolly Stud Farm (CSF) brand in Tuam, Co Galway. Like the Bradys, the Connolly family had an unforgettable outing, watching James Kann Cruz and Shane Sweetnam compete on the winning Aga Khan team at Dublin this year. The gelding has since won a five-star Grand Prix in America.

“A once-in-a-lifetime horse. It is great to see that Irish-bred horses are competing so well in both showjumping and eventing.”

King Edward (show jumping), fischerChipmunk FRH (eventing) and TSF Dalera (dressage) are the WBFSH top-ranked horses of 2022, while the BWP (show jumping) and KWPN (dressage) were the other leading studbooks.