JASON Doerflinger, who should have been riding six horses at the Milchem Equestrian Centre tomorrow, will be out of action until Christmas having broken his leg in a fall last Wednesday week.

This has been a mixed month for the 24-year-old, as it was only recently confirmed by Eventing Ireland that the Galway native had won the 2023 Connolly’s Red Mills OBP League with Milchem Echo.

Established to highlight the consistently competitive horse, the Opposition Beaten Percentage is the percentage of opponents a horse has beaten having started the cross-country phase.

Horses were required to have made three cross-country starts throughout the EI season to be in running for the prize.

Doerflinger and Milchem Echo had an OBP of 100% as did amateur Tanya Lock with her Connemara mare Rathcline Moonlight Girl, both combinations having recorded three wins from three starts. However, the Western Region representatives claimed the honours as they beat more opponents (54 compared to 47) at non-restricted EI90 level at Rosanna (1), Rosanna (2) and Grove.

Owned by Ralph Conroy, chairman of the Western Region of EI, the five-year-old Musical Pursuit gelding Milchem Echo was bred in Co Galway by Patrick Dillon out of Clondavin (by Nautilus). Milchem Echo was due to compete in the Horse Sport Ireland five-year-old combined training class tomorrow but will instead have a bit of an unexpected holiday, awaiting Doerflinger’s return.

Tanya Lock and Rathcline Moonlight Girl, pictured at Ballindenisk, were second in the Connolly’s Red Mills OBP league \ Justin Black Millstreet Horse Photography

Tanya Lock, who works at the Ballyellen Equestrian Centre outside Gorey, won EI90 (Amateur) classes at Ballindenisk (1) and Grove on Rathcline Moonlight Girl before rounding off her short season in style when claiming the EI90 title at the inaugural Eventing Ireland Grassroots Championships at Lisgarvan House in late August.

Rathcline Moonlight Girl, a 10-year-old dun by Moonlight Silver Shadow, was bred in Co Longford by Maurine Kearns out of the Coosheen Thyme mare Coriander.