THE impending sale of Forth Mountain Stud has forced the organisers of the Young Eventhorse Series (YES) to seek an alternative venue to ensure they have four qualifiers for their 2025 league, which will serve as a conduit for the young event horse championships at the Dublin Horse Show next August.

James O’Connor first hosted a leg of the Future Event Horse League at Forth Mountain in 2005 and has continued that association, with its rebirth as the Young Eventhorse Series along with FEHL founders, the Ryans of Scarteen and the McGahern family of Rincoola.

“I will really miss James,” said Angela McGahern, co-ordinator of YES. “He is a very kind man, always ready to give of his time and nothing was too much trouble for him. We are currently in discussion with a number of venues regarding a qualifier and I hope to confirm this, and the dates for 2025, next week.”

Many Dublin champions have booked their Dublin qualifying spots at Forth Mountain, the most recent being the Diamond Roller gelding You Neek who, ridden by Steven Smith for his wife Jenny, claimed the five-year-old title in the Main Arena at the RDS in August.

Forth Mountain Stud, with its four-bedroomed house, 71 acres, 31 stables, all-weather arena, indoor school and large car park is well-known among the professional equestrian community and with the number of amateur riders who use its livery facilities. The establishment of the Forth Mountain Glamping Pods has also introduced leisure riders from around the country to the wonderful trail and beach riding around Wexford, as they can book both themselves and their horses into the venue for a weekend or longer.

“If they booked in for livery, they also had the use of the arena, indoor and our cross-country course while, if they boxed up their horses, it’s only a 30-minute drive to the beach,” said O’Connor, who has bred some good racehorses at his Co Wexford stud including The Shunter who won the 2023 Cesarewitch at Newmarket and a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at the 2020 November meeting in Cheltenham.

Also bred at Forth Mountain was the non-winning Sageburg mare Belle Saru who, partnered by Caroline McQuillan, landed the EI100 (Amateur) national championship at Lisgarvan House in 2022.

Forth Mountain Stud, which has a guide price of €1.4 million, and the adjacent Forth Mountain glamping pods (€350,000), will be auctioned online on Thursday, December 12th by Keane Auctioneers. Check out their website for full details of the properties, viewing opportunities and the bidding process.