Sweetnam in Top 10 final

HE is ranked 11th in the world but Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam has been named as one of the riders who will duke it out at the 22nd Rolex International Jumping Riders’ Club (IJRC) Top 10 final on December 8th at the Concours Hippique International de Geneve. Sweetnam made the list because current number six ranked rider, McLain Ward (USA) is unable to take part.

The competition brings together the 10 best show jumpers in the world, recognising their achievements during the preceding year.

This year’s other competitors, in order of their current ranking, are Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), Ben Maher (GBR), Kent Farrington (USA), Martin Fuchs (SUI), Steve Guerdat (SUI), Julien Epaillard (FRA), Simon Delestre (FRA), Max Kuhner (AUT) and Harrie Smolders (NED).

Four of this year’s competitors are former winners, namely, von Eckermann, Maher, Guerdat and Farrington, with seven of the 10 having been in last year’s top 10.

Irish team nominated

THE Horse Sport Ireland Senior Irish Show Jumping team have been nominated for the Team Ireland Team of the Year award.

In the Team of the Year category, Michael Blake’s team has been shortlisted alongside the Irish Men’s Rugby Sevens team and the Irish Athletics team, with the winner being announced tonight at the Team Ireland Olympic Ball.

With four Nations Cup wins, numerous podiums and a European Championship silver medal, it has been a spectacular year for the team and fingers crossed there will be one last win with this award.

“Regardless of the outcome, it is a huge honour to be nominated and shortlisted, and is testament to all of the hard work put in by all in the high performance programme this year,” a HSI spokesman said.

FEI pony measuring

FEI registrations for 2024 opened on November 6th; all ponies wishing to compete in FEI competitions must be FEI measured.

FEI Pony measuring will be held at Cavan Equestrian Centre on Tuesday, January 23rd; Wednesday, January 24th and Thursday, January 25th, 2024.

Those interested should note these will be the only FEI measuring dates in Ireland in 2024.

Dressage horse dies following freak accident

DANISH dressage horse Horsebo Smarties, who won multiple medals during his career, has died following a freak accident with a low-flying jet plane.

Together with Stinna Tange Kaastrup, the 22-year-old Danish warmblood gelding by Gribaldi won Paralympic, world and European medals between 2016 and 2018. Since then, he had been retired with his owner and breeder Helle Kristiansen.

It is understood that he sustained fatal injuries when he was spooked by the plane.

“I’m extremely heartbroken as I learn today that Smarties has died as the result of a freak accident due to a low flying F-16 jet,” Stinna said. “What a sad way to end such a great life.

“Smarties, your great legacy lives on and you’ll never be forgotten. See you on the other side, my friend. My condolences and thoughts go out to the breeder and owner of Smarties through his 22-year life.”

Upton back in saddle after surgery

BRITISH event rider Bubby Upton, a seven-time under-21 medallist, sustained injury in an accident riding on the flat in August, leading to a complete burst fracture of vertebra L3 and a horizontal fracture of L2. Following six hours of surgery to stabilise the spine, decompress the vertebrae and fuse L3, along with a lot of hard work and rehabilitation, she has ridden this week for the first time since her accident.

“Today was the day that I have been dreaming about and working towards for the past 11 weeks. The possibility, hope and thought of this day has given me immeasurable strength and resilience throughout this journey,” she posted on social media.

“I never needed confirmation of the love I have for what I do, but when it’s temporarily taken away from you and for a time you don’t know if you’ll ever get to experience it again, it definitely made me miss it and love it more than I thought was ever possible.

“The reality of how unbelievably lucky I am to have had this road to recover on considering the severity of the damage, will for ever be the greatest fuel to my fire.”

Latest WBFSH stallion rankings released

DIAMANT de Semilly (show jumping), Diarado (eventing) and Johnson (dressage) are the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) number one-ranked stallions in their just-released sire rankings.

OBOS Quality (second) and Pacino (41st) are the highest-placed Irish-based eventing and show jumping sires. Full analysis next week.

Cristalline retires

ADRIENNE Sternlicht (USA) has announced the retirement of her 15-year-old mare Cristalline, who enjoyed great success during her show jumping career.

In 2016, at the age of eight, she finished 10th in the World Cup Final at Gothenburg, Sweden; Sternlicht bought her later that year.

Together they had top-five finishes in several Grand Prix classes and were part of the American team who won the gold medal at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, finishing 11th individually.

In a statement on her official Instagram account, Sternlicht wrote of Cristalline: “She taught me resilience, the power of true presence and a greater depth of gratitude for another being than I have ever known. For these reasons, she has been my greatest teacher, the greatest gift of my life.”