There were palpable ripples of pride and optimism throughout the country this weekend as our young equestrian talent shone like beacons at the FEI European Show Jumping Championship in Gorla Minore, Italy. Not one, but two team golds, plus an individual European Championship gold for Seamus Hughes Kennedy (on Ennisnag Stud-bred ESI Rocky), and also a silver for Tom Wachman. Our young riders are the best there is and we are all so proud of you.

Dublin Horse Show

The €1.3 million Dublin Horse Show is only three weeks away and as we celebrated its official launch last week alongside Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, he announced he will be in attendance at the Show this year.

While we’re on the subject, hot of the press last week was The Irish Field Dublin Horse Show glossy magazine. I enjoyed a good read of it this weekend, snuggled up on the sofa with a cup of tea, as the Biblical rains fell outside. The magazine is absolutely packed with everything Dublin Horse Show including exclusives with Shane Sweetnam, McLain Ward and Cian O’Connor, as well top breeders, the Army Equitation School, former racehorses, and the best of our pony producers. Give yourself a treat - it’s in shops now or you can get it online via The Irish Field website.

Irish Equine Centre

Last week also brought a laboratory analyst from the Irish Equine Centre to my yard here in Fermanagh. If there’s one thing interviewing lots of equestrian professionals has taught me, it’s that you can’t argue with facts when it comes to nutrition or bio-security. Horse Sport Ireland are offering an environmental testing scheme and the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association are offering a stud farm hygiene package, both generously subsidised and incredibly useful for breeders and equestrians.

I availed of both offers to get comprehensive testing of my soil, grass, nursery paddocks, foaling stables, forage, feed and water. To my mind, getting these tests done is a no-brainer, and to be recommended. Testing will save money and time because I’ll know exactly what, if any, fertiliser my fields require, and what my horses truly need or don’t need in terms of supplementation.

Also to note, the second tranche of Horse Sport Ireland’s breeding schemes opened last week. There’s so much going on across our industry it’s hard not to feel enthusiastic, and Dublin Horse Show fever is well and truly here!