THERE are many dual-purpose yards and mixed yards in the country but is there any as diverse as Bluegate Stud in Co Kilkenny? There you will find mares and foals – thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred – racehorses, event horses, show horses and also ponies for every equestrian discipline in which they can compete!

Having enjoyed an excellent summer on the showing scene, Louise Lyons and partner Nicky Teehan had a very successful Dublin Horse Show in Ring 2 where, on the Saturday, their daughter Nancy won the 133cms working hunter pony class on Tybroughney Cloud. As the show closed on the Sunday, Louise claimed the working hunter horse championship on Lady Perdita Blackwood’s Irish Draught gelding Clandeboye, a six-year-old grey by Scrapman who won the older medium/heavyweight class by a massive 14 points.

This weekend Louise, Nicky, Nancy plus her sister Robin and brother Nicky George are at the Burghley Horse Trials where, tomorrow, Nancy will compete in the 133cms section of the British Show Pony Society Gold Cup having qualified Tybroughney Cloud at the recent BSPS summer championships at Grantham (Arena UK).

“I competed in the Burghley 5* on six occasions,” said Louise. “It’s a special place and my favourite event. I cannot wait for the family to walk the cross-country course.”