THE 2022 ISH Young Breeders National Championships took place last Saturday, April 2nd at Kildalton Agricultural College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny. The event was hosted by Teagasc and Horse Sport Ireland, supported by Department of Agriculture Food and Marine.

Wendy Conlon, Teagasc Equine specialist, said: “A dedicated and focused group of 15-25 year olds demonstrated their skills as horse handlers, their knowledge in assessment of conformation and athleticism traits of horses; while also completing a theory test on equine health and welfare; nutrition; stable management and the sport.”

Clare Ryan, Tiernan Gill, and Philip Scott set the standards for their younger counterparts to match in the assessment of the Ennisnag Stud horses in conformation, movement and jump over the course of the morning. In the afternoon session, Tiernan, Philip, Andrew Hughes and Conor Higgins assessed the skills of the handlers presenting horses on the triangle.

The competition acts as the first step in the qualification process for team participants to represent the Irish Sport Horse Studbook at the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses International Young Breeders World Championship taking place in Ermelo, Holland from July 7th – 9th 2022.

Prizes were provided to those who scored best overall when the disciplines of theory, conformation and athleticism assessment, and in hand were combined and also for each individual discipline within both age categories.

What they said

Amy Finn remarked that she was “really delighted to win and be recognised for all of the hard work. The day was amazing, and I really appreciated the opportunity to assess the stallions in particular. I hope to be competitive in the next stages of selection for World Championship team as it is my last year of eligibility and I thoroughly enjoyed the previous two World Championships in Austria and Canada.”

Edward Hennessy said: “having first become involved in 2019 and attending World Championships in Austria I feel now I am starting to get my confidence. I was really happy with my in hand and appreciated all of the ringcraft tips shared in the pre National training session and decided to challenge myself in positive risk taking for the trot phase which paid off. I am delighted with the achievement and can’t wait for the next training days.”

Additional to those placed above, the following seniors placing 4th – 7th overall:

Joanne Whyte, Ardagh, Co. Longford; Dylan Connolly, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway; Michelle Dunne, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary; and Maria Cairns, Whitechurch, Co. Wexford are invited to advance to World Championship team selection.

Also juniors placing 4th -7th overall:

Shane Donohoe, Ballina, Co. Mayo; Érin Sheridan, Bundoran, Co. Donegal, Sorcha Kirby, Birdhill, Co. Limerick, and Camilla Snow Coyne, Letterfrack, Co. Galway.

The event is a team effort with too many to mention involved and the input of all is greatly appreciated. Worth mentioning is the valued contribution of past young breeders Conor Higgins (mentioned above), Melissa Glynn, Nicole Groyer and Vera O’Callaghan giving back to the programme having previously benefited themselves.

More photographs from the weekend are on ‘ISH Young Breeders’ on Facebook; and further information about the programme on www.teagasc.ie; and www.horsesportireland.ie