Mellor is the Gain Star of the Month

CONGRATULATIONS to Co Down dressage rider Carolyn Mellor, who was voted The Irish Field/Gain Equine Nutrition Star of the Month for September. Mellor was crowned the Irish national dressage champion last month at Ballindenisk riding VSH Gouverneur M, while she also won four more titles at the venue. Well done Carolyn!

Pau CCI5*-L ongoing

THE final CCI5*-L of the year is underway in Pau, France, where there are seven Irish riders in action. At the conclusion of dressage, Britain’s Ros Canter leads the way with Izilot DHI on a score of 19.0. She heads compatriots Emily King (Valmy Biats) and Oliver Townend on the ISH Cooley Rosalent, who are equal second on 24.6.

Goresbridge December pony sale

GORESBRIDGE’s Ed Donohoe has announced the launch of a new sale, specifically aimed for show jumping ponies with form. Confined to SJI registered ponies up to and including 148cm, the sale will be staged as a special sector during the December sport horse renewal on Friday, December 6th.

“Having been involved in the jumping pony sector with my own children, I realised that there is no end of season outlet for people to either trade up when their kids are out of an age group, or to sell before they move on to horses,” explained Donohoe. “With this in mind, I wanted to offer pony owners the opportunity and a platform to do so and, at this early stage, we have received a great response.” Donohoe also added that, while not compulsory, vendors with the top-tier ponies would be advised to sell them with a set of x-rays.

Wexford breeders’ meeting

THE Wexford Irish Draught Horse Breeders’ Association is hosting a meeting for all equine breeders and producers to “impress on local TDs/politicians the negative impact that non-receipt of passports from HSI has on the industry”. The meeting will take place at Clogh Hall Leskinfere (Y25A326), just off the M11, on Saturday, November 2nd at 8pm. For more information, contact Joan Douglas on 086-2887810.

Irish team win Nations Cup

THE Irish show jumping team of Mikey Pender with HHS Los Angeles (ISH), Jason Foley with Jacksonville Eurohill, Seamus Hughes Kennedy with ESI Rocky (ISH) and Cian O’Connor with Iron Man, led by chef d’equipe Michael Blake, won Friday’s three-star Nations Cup at Vejer De La Frontera in Spain. Ireland were convincing winners on a score of nine faults. Full report in next week’s paper.

Clarification - Killadoran Stud

THE comment piece by Helen Sharp in The Irish Horse section of the October 12th edition of the Irish Farmers Journal (“Respect your elders”) was placed beside a photograph of a mare and foal at Killadoran Stud.

We would like to clarify that the article had no connection to Killadoran Stud and should have been demarked separately and entitled ‘Picture of the Week’. We apologise to Killadoran Stud owners Liam Buckley and Catherine McCourt for any embarrassment caused.