THE not-for-profit organisation Treo Eile has partnered with the Irish Pony Club again in 2024 to reward members riding thoroughbreds.

The organisation with the mission to ‘connect’, ‘support’ and ‘promote’ the retraining of racehorses, has seen an increase in the number of thoroughbreds participating in Pony Club activities.

Treo Eile’s Executive Officer Anne O’Connor explains: “With the versatility and quick learning of the thoroughbred, the second career option of Pony Club activities is on a positive trajectory. We are pleased to continue our support of Irish Pony Club members on their competition journey with their thoroughbreds. Our sponsorship of training bursaries, rewards the thoroughbred in its own right and supports the members with their retraining and competition goals.”

Killinick member Lily-Mai Berry and the ex point-to-pointer Skylanna Scatman won the Treo Eile Eventing League in 2023 with Tekka Whelan and Fortunate Max, representing the Bray Branch, taking the award for the highest-paced thoroughbred at the IPC/Connolly’s Red Mills Eventing Championships in Tattersalls.

Berry, who won the latter award at the 2022 Championships on Skylanna Scatman (who is now being aimed at Eventing Ireland competitions), will campaign a new thoroughbred in 2024, Coburg, a seven-year-old gelding by Sageburg who had the last of his five runs last August. The ex-Henry de Bromhead-trained Changing Course and Sadhbh Finlay (Meath) completed the highest-placed thoroughbred double at the IPC National Dressage day and the Show Jumping Classic.

The sponsorship package which commenced yesterday at CoilÓg with the IPC National Dressage Day, incorporates a Thoroughbred Eventing League, and ‘highest-placed thoroughbred’ awards in the individual dressage and show jumping at the Festival, the Eventing Championships, Hunter Trials Championships and the Show Jumping Classic.