Ian Cassells is Star of the Month

CONGRATULATIONS to Ian Cassells who was voted The Irish Field/Gain Equine Nutrition Star of the Month for July. Cassells was part of the winning Irish Nations Cup eventing team at Millstreet in July and was also on the team that finished third at CHIO Aachen.

Supreme sale of foals

THE Goresbridge Supreme Sale of Show jumping foals takes place today (Saturday) at Barnadown in Co Wexford, in conjunction with the Irish Breeders’ Classic. The auction begins at 6.30pm. In last week’s preview, Lot 22 was not included. That is an unnamed bay colt foal by Kassander van’t Roosakker out of the Winningmood mare Golden Amber C who jumped to 1.35m level under Deane Rogan. The second dam, Nufrieda, also produced the 1.50m horse Euro Sport Heartbreaker.

Supporting our para athletes

DARRAGH Equestrian was pleased to announce its continuing support to the Irish Paralympics equestrian team in conjunction with premier clothing brand Equiline. Equiline is the official supplier of the team competition jackets for the athletes who compete next week in Paris as part of the 2024 Games.

Liz Halliday stable after head injury

USA event rider Liz Halliday is described as “stable” after sustaining a head injury in a fall on cross-country at the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky. A statement from the rider’s family said: “Liz underwent surgery to relieve the pressure from the swelling in her brain. The doctors felt the surgery went exceptionally well. Liz is in a stable condition and currently resting comfortably.” The horse, Irish-bred nine-year-old Shanroe Cooley, was uninjured in the fall.

IHWT winter fodder appeal

THE Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) has launched a winter fodder appeal and is seeking donations of good quality fodder for the coming winter. Donated fodder needs to be sent to their farm in Co Wicklow as the cost of collecting donated fodder very often exceeds the value of it.

The huge increase in the costs of fodder in the past two years has become another challenge for the charity. With nearly 70 equines in care, including many thoroughbreds along with cobs and ponies, there is a huge amount of hay and haylage used and the rise in these costs has put an additional strain on already limited resources. If you wish to make a monetary donation, visit www.ihwt.ie/donate.

FEI to address dressage challenges

THE FEI will host a key meeting with stakeholders on October 1st to kick off in-depth discussions on addressing the challenges currently impacting dressage. This meeting, which will bring together representatives from national federations and recognised stakeholder groups including athletes, officials, organisers, trainers, and veterinary experts marks the beginning of a broader strategy to ensure the sustainability and growth of the discipline.

The actions are in response to the controversy currently embroiling the sport with both Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Krüth temporarily suspended for allegedly whipping horses.