THE Northern Ireland Horse Board (NIHB) hosted its highly anticipated annual Foal Show last Thursday at The Meadows Equestrian Centre. The NIHB organised the foal show as a platform to recognise and celebrate the exceptional breeding programmes and remarkable foals bred within the region.

The show attracted a diverse array of breeders, owners, trainers, and horse enthusiasts, all eager to witness the future stars of the equine world, judged by Irish Horse Board chairman and Mayo breeder Tiernan Gill.

The Foal Show featured several categories, including show jumping, eventing and traditional foal classes. The judging panel evaluated each foal based on conformation, movement, temperament, and potential for future success.

Some 23 mares and foals were shown in the show jumping class where Donna Gillen’s Orville Miss Heartbreaker was chosen as the winner. The liver chestnut filly by KWPN stallion Orville Van De Watermollen is out of the Irish Sport Horse Oughterard OBOS (Bosellwell Mr Heartbreaker x OBOS Quality 004).

Janice Reddy took the winner’s share of the Baileys Horse Feeds-sponsored eventing foal class with her Vivant filly Ardnacashel Lady Vivant.

The final class of the day was the Traditional foal class, sponsored by MGM Logistics Ireland. Taking first place in the class was Shaunna McCotter with Pandora, a liver chestnut filly by the Irish Draught Moylough Legacy (ID) out of Ballycann Marie (Lislap Benedict).