HORSE Sport Ireland’s High Performance pony and junior programmes will be led by Sue Shortt (eventing) and Anne Marie Dunphy (dressage). Dunphy will also manage senior dressage.

Shortt has competed at the very highest levels and previously managed pony, junior and young rider teams to European medal success, including last year when the junior eventing team won silver at the FEI European Championships in Stzregom, with Tom Nestor also winning individual silver on board Cooley Diamond Dancer (ISH).

Shortt will be joined by a top-class team of Horse Sport Ireland accredited coaches including Heike Holstein, Sue Smallman, Cormac Rafferty and Gerald Bloomer.

“We have a group of very talented riders in both the pony and junior squads,” Shortt said. “We will be focused on developing these riders over the coming months aiming for podium success at European level and providing a platform for them to achieve success in the future.”

It will be a typically busy summer for the youth programmes, with the FEI Eventing European Championships for Ponies taking place in Le Mans, France, in July and the championships for Juniors being held once again in Stzregom, Poland, in August.

HSI Level 3 Dressage coach Dunphy is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading equestrian coaches.

The Kilkenny woman has played a huge role in the progression of Ireland’s youth dressage programme since she took the role at the programme’s inception in 2014 and is responsible for devising the high-performance pathway and structures for the development of Irish youth dressage athletes to international and European Championship level.

“As we head into the new Olympic cycle I look forward to working with our talented athletes, their support teams, HSI and Sport Ireland to develop more strength and depth in our squads and progress the conversion of our youth athletes to senior level,” Dunphy said.