THE first ‘traditional’ news story of 2025 involved the presentation of a Liam Clancy hunting portrait to Chris Ryan in recognition of his dedication to the Scarteen Hunt. Ecumenical in his praise of all Irish horses, it would be fair to say the Traditional Irish Horse is a source of great pride for Ryan. He was a chief contributor to McKinlaigh’s week in the Horse of a Lifetime series in the springtime, which also featured Slyguff Stud’s trio of Highland Flight, Imperius and King Of Diamonds.

In February, the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA), a totally voluntary group running on a shoestring budget, held their AGM in Portlaoise. The extent of that minuscule budget became apparent when their previous year’s accounts showed the TIHA’s annual budget was €11,909, less than other organisations’ mileage expenses.