AS the indoor season begins, both at home and abroad, we will start to see and hear of high-profile horses changing hands. This is always particularly in focus in the year before an Olympic Games as the athletes try to get their mounts secured and the rules surrounding ownership are an important factor.

Horses selected for the Olympic Games for Ireland, or any country, must be registered with the FEI as property of owners of the same nationality of the athletes before January 15th 2024. It often adds complications for Irish riders as so many are based abroad and backed by big owners. For instance, one of Ireland’s big hopes for Paris – James Kann Cruz (ISH) – is currently registered under USA ownership, by Gizmo Partners LLC.

As per the rules, horses can be registered with multinational ownerships and that is what will most likely happen in his case, with Shane Sweetnam being part of that owning partnership. This too has to be completed by January 15th 2024.

Israeli rider Daniel Bluman famously missed out on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when the nationality of his horse was listed as American rather than Israeli. On discovering the error, he lodged an appeal to backdate a change but was denied by the FEI. With Paris now just nine months away, you will see lots of trade and changes to the ownership of the top horses on the FEI database.

Farewell for now

This is the last paper I will edit for a couple of months as I officially go on maternity leave next week. I excitedly await the arrival of my first baby into the world and look forward to picking up the paper on a Saturday morning like the rest of our loyal readers.

It does feel strange to take extended leave, but I’m sure I’ll be kept busy, and I look forward to returning early next summer as we count down to the Olympics. Lesley Hunter-Nolan and Bree Rutlegde will continue to bring you all the latest news from the sport horse industry, email them at horseworld@theirishfield.ie