TAYLOR Vard has named the 19 horses selected to represent the the Irish WBFSH Studbooks at the Young Horse World Championships taking place in Lanaken, Belgium, from September 18th to 22nd.

Of the 19 Irish-bred horses, 18 are Irish Sport Horses and one is from the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland, with riders from three nations making up the squad.

Speaking about the selection for the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships, Vard said: “I’d like to congratulate the riders and owners of all the horses selected for this Championship show. Congratulations also to the breeders themselves. It’s a squad I am very excited about. There were some difficult choices to be made with so many good horses to choose from. There will be disappointment for some that weren’t selected but that shouldn’t take away from any horse’s future.

“We’re hoping to replicate some of the success from last year and make everybody proud who is involved in getting these young horses to this level in Ireland, regardless of Studbook.

“I want to thank Horse Sport Ireland and my background team there for their support. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for their support of the young horse classes. Showjumping Ireland, the RDS, Millstreet and everyone that’s involved in running the high calibre shows like we have in Ireland; the judges and volunteers also. A special word of thanks to the course builders who design the tracks that develop these young horses in preparation not just for these World Championships but also shows like the WBFSH Studbooks Global Champions Jumping Trophy taking place for its second year just a week later in Valkenswaard.”

The squad selected is as follows, for breeding information visit horseportireland.ie.

5-Year-Olds: Cutting Edge Too and Shane Goggins (IRL), Rosconnell Tango and Leah Stack (IRL), Belle Mail and Vincent Byrne (IRL), ESI Crystal and Harry Wood (GBR), Ogue MBF and Jason Higgins (IRL), BP Vibrant and Leah Stack (IRL)

6-Year-Olds: Boleybawn Alvaro and Niamh McEvoy (IRL), Jump The Gun and Nicholas Connors (IRL), Gone Girl VB and Vincent Byrne (IRL), Daliradas Boy and Niamh McEvoy (IRL), Luisa and Leah Stack (IRL), Kilnamac Cody and Jack Ryan (IRL), Ballyshan BF Super Hero and Jason Foley (IRL)

7-Year-Olds: HHS Ice Flo and Molly Hughes Bravo (POR), BP Lion Man and Harry Wood (GBR), BP Tiny Dancer and Niamh McEvoy (IRL), Rock Warrior and Max O’Reilly-Hyland (IRL), Monbeg Balou and Sophie Richards (IRL), HHS Mercedes and Molly Hughes Bravo (POR)