HORSE Sport Ireland announced Dag Albert as the eventing team manager for the upcoming FEI World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses.

Fresh from Ireland’s success at the FEI European Youth Eventing Championships in Hartpury, where he led the Gain Equine Nutrition Irish juniors to a silver medal, Albert was given the nod as chef d’equipe for Le Lion d’Angers taking place in late October.

The Swede, who competed at the 1996 and 2008 Olympic Games, will be keeping a watchful eye on potential combinations at this week’s Millstreet International Horse Trials.

Announcing the news on HSI’s website, Dag Albert is quoted as saying: “It’s a really exciting new project for me to work on. We’ve had such a good run with the Youths over the last few weeks and success breeds success. I’ve obviously been with the juniors prior, but this week at Millstreet will tell me a lot. I should be able to get a look at the whole picture with regards to what we’ve got because it won’t be too long coming around.

“But it’s an honour to be given the responsibility to lead Ireland into these Championships and I’m very grateful to have been chosen. I must say a huge thank you to my predecessor Janet Murray for all the work she has done with this program over the years – she has been brilliant – and I hope that I can continue that work.”

Welcomed

Horse Sport Ireland’s Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development, Dr Sonja Egan, welcomed Albert’s appointment, saying: “Dag’s appointment to the role for Le Lion d’Angers is an exciting one and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what he can achieve. He brings a wealth of experience to support athlete coaching, preparation, and young horse selection for international competition. We have seen what he did at the European Championships recently and everyone at Horse Sport Ireland is behind him.

“He has a fantastic record with other teams and other competitions and knows how to blend production and support of the young Irish-bred horse capable of competition on the world stage.”