Ledingham to remain as chef d’equipe for studbook team

Despite a disappointing outcome in his bid for the Senior High Performance team manager post, Comdt. John Ledingham will continue in his position as chef d’equipe for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook show jumping team at the World Young Horse Championships in Lanaken.

However, he will not continue in the same role with the Children on Horses, Junior or Young Rider squads with which he has had such success over the years.

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But perhaps the achievement of which Ledingham is most satisfied with is the medal winning record of our young horses at the very competitive World Championships in Lanaken.

So, the Meath-based coach will stay with that project during the coming season.

World Cup finals under way

This year’s World Cup finals in show jumping and dressage are already under way in the CenturyLink Arena, Omaha, Nebraska.

Today, Ireland’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K compete in the opening leg of their FEI dressage championship against 17 other contenders.

Meanwhile, Denis Lynch also lines out in the speed Table C round of the show jumping final with All Star 5. There are 37 declared contenders from 20 countries in that Longines final.

The overall final in dressage is on Saturday with the show jumping final on Sunday. Full report in next week’s issue of Irish Horse.

WSI Stallion exhibition and interactive seminar

This Sunday, 2 April, the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland (WSI) will hold the WSI Stallion Exhibition and Interactive Seminar on traits required in breeding stallions at Ballyrafter Equestrian Centre in Waterford, from 2-5pm.

All breeders are invited to view a collection of both proven and young sires. Confirmed stallions include Luidam, Ulysses m2s, Je t’Aime Flamenco, Ai Weiwei m2s, Mermus R, and a special new arrival from Germany. Further information is available on the Facebook page of the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland.

Loss of Ballivor and Castlerea shows

Ballivor Show will not take place for 2017. One of the few remaining traditional country shows on the National Grand Prix show jumping circuit, it took place on a green field site on a working farm and was run by a voluntary committee for charity and the local community. Ballivor show chairperson, Peter Dargan said that the committee will look at the show again next year and assess if it should run in 2018.

Another show off the calander for 2017 is Castlerea Agriculture Show, but they too hope to run a show again next year after forming a new committee.

Earlier in the year, it was announced that the South County Dublin charity show will not take place in 2017 due to a clash of dates with an international show.

Agri careers’ equine panel

The Agri Careers main stage provides a platform for those who have built careers in the industry to impart nuggets of wisdom and inspiration. This year, Louisa Williams designer of ICE-VIBE horse boots, Patrick Ryan of Horse Racing Ireland and Clodagh Kavanagh of Godolphin Flying Start will be discussing opportunities in the equine sector. Chaired by Editor of The Irish Field, Leo Powell this discussion will take place at 14.15pm on Thursday, 30 March in the RDS Main Hall.