MANY congratulations to Co Down Irish Sport Horse producer David Kirkpatrick who was awarded an MBE in Queen Elizabeth’s birthday honours’ list for his services to the equine sector in Northern Ireland.

Most readers would recognise David’s name mainly as a very successful show ring exhibitor, with his wife Charlotte, of young traditionally bred horses under the Redwood prefix. At the 2005 Dublin Horse Show, David showed the couple’s three-year-old Ghareeb gelding, Redwood Thyme, to victory in the youngstock championship.

Under saddle, Redwood Clover was third for the Kirkpatricks in the four-year-old young event horse class at Dublin in 2013 and is now competing at CCI4*-L level in Britain.

On his retirement as a manager with Ulster Bank, David achieved a lifelong ambition of qualifying as a BHS Assistant Instructor. He has served on many equestrian committees and, in the mid-1980s, was a founding director of the Northern Ireland Horse Board which he represented in meetings with the Irish Horse Board/Horse Sport Ireland.

In 2013 David joined the Board of the Equine Council for Northern Ireland, soon becoming secretary. On the Board, he represented the BHS, Riding for the Disabled, Riding Clubs, hunting and The Pony Club. The key focus of the ECNI was to get Government to recognise the equestrian industry for what it was with a subsequent Deloitte investigation finding that it was worth £200 million to the NI economy every year, employing roughly 3,200 people.

“I am deeply humbled and highly honoured to have been included in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours’ list with an MBE for services to equestrianism,” commented Kirkpatrick.

“Throughout my life I have always attempted to work for the industry as a whole, for the benefit of all. I really appreciate the help and support I have received over the years and would most sincerely like to thank everyone who has supported me. Finally, I must thank Charlotte for her continual support, her listening ear and guiding hand all of which were frequently used.”