COMBINATIONS had to qualify for the first time for the working hunter pony classes at this year’s Dublin Horse Show and Ring 2 was far the happier place for the process last Saturday.

True, not everyone completed, but even those who didn’t should be proud of the fact that they qualified and, hopefully, everyone will be better prepared next year. The series was run in conjunction with the Irish Pony Society, whose Johnny Kyle stuck to his guns in producing a similar track at each of the qualifying venues, despite coming under no small bit of pressure.

One person who was really delighted that combinations had to qualify was the course designer for these classes, Britain’s Kevin Millman, who was particularly pleased that everyone completed in the opening starter stakes. Like most of the spectators, Millman was blown away by the performance of the first rider in, former champion jumps jockey Davy Russell’s son Finn on the mare Shine Brite Like A Diamond, who is just a four-year-old.

The class was won by the talented Amber Lane who, earlier in the month, had been on the Irish team competing at the youths’ home nations’ dressage international in Wales on Barkway State Affair. Here, she rode Marjorie Hardiman’s Creganna Dancer, the 16-year-old skewbald mare by Moore’s Clover, who she only started riding in February.

Louise Lyons’ Tybroughney Cloud got through to the final phase in this class, but got a bit strong on his young rider, Robin Lyons-Teehan, whose older sister, Nancy, partnered the 20-year-old grey gelding to win the 133cm class by a 15-point margin. Maeve Kennedy’s Connemara gelding Little Dromin Phoenix has a good record at Dublin and the 15-year-old Lettermucknoo Lad grey claimed the 143cm class in the hands of the owner’s daughter, Evie.

Connemaras out in force

Ridden by Hannah Mackey for her mother Emily and grandfather Joe Widger, the Connemara gelding Ella’s Melody (106.5 points), a 17-year-old grey son of I Love You Melody, won the 153cm class, adding to a list of victories, which includes the supreme working hunter pony championship at the recent Royal International Show in Hickstead.

Jessica Murphy, who finished second in that class on Highview Royal Meelin (99), partnered the 2023 champion, Darcy De Chanteloube, in the Intermediate. However, the Co Wexford rider reckons she used up all her luck last year, as she had a fence down with the French-bred gelding and had to settle for third (89).

The winner on 103 points was Holly Maher riding her father Noel’s Connemara mare Boulabeha’s Little Princess, a 13-year-old grey by Prince Of Thieves, while Rosie Coad placed second with the Irish Sport Horse mare Cooley Clarissima (95).

When it came to the championship, judges Victoria Clark and Julie Templeton went for the first and second in the 143cm class, presenting the Vivienne Hillery Cup to Evie Kennedy on Little Dromin Phoenix, while Lara Field stood reserve on her father Mark’s Connemara mare Creganna Kerfuffle, who was bred by the rider’s mother, Marjorie Hardiman.

The prize fund for these classes was supported by HSI and DAFM.