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What had just been dreamed of when Horse Sport Ireland’s stallion inspections began back in 2010 seemed to have come true on the second day of this year’s event at Cavan when six young colts came before the judges and five were approved, having met the requirements.
Over the two days, three sport horses recorded scores of 80 and over for athleticism.
No wonder HSI Director of Breeding Alison Corbally declared: “The standard of stallions being presented is improving year on year.”
From an overall entry of 28 there was a pass rate of 50%, including three thoroughbreds, three Irish Draughts, seven sport horses and one delightful 128cm pony named Blaengwen Kato Star sent up by Valerie Gateau of Spancil Hill.
Blaengwen Kato Star at the Cavan stallion inspections. \ Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net
Draughts and Thoroughbreds
The Irish Draught session opened disappointingly as four of the nine entries in this section went out without gaining approval.
But then came Michael and Chris Mannion from Athlone with four-year-old Windgap Reliance (Windgap Blue/Gortlea Ruller) that scored well enough to gain the desired Class I designation.
Later on in day one he was joined by Hollypark Diamond (Castlegar Finn Grove/All the Diamonds) owned by Galway’s Edmund McDonagh along with Martin Egan’s Archie The Great (Moylough Bouncer/Castana).
The thoroughbreds were impressive this time as three out of an entry of five were given approval.
From Killinik Co Wexford came Ann Lambert’s Jack The Robin by Robin de la Maison and out of a Gothland dam.
It was nice to see a son of the great Galileo, Ascalon who is out of a Tempolino mare get approved for Michael Mescal of Drumelihy, County Clare.
John Varley of Clonbur made it three with Centennial (Dalakhani/Lure).
Sport horses
Having seen all nine inspections to date I have to say that the greatest signs of progress came from among the entry of 14 in the sport horse section.
Seven out of this group gained approval from judges Tiernan Gill, Alisair Pim, John Ledingham and Maurice Coleman.
Ronan Rothwell and David Cullen’s SHS Soco Blue (Zirocco Blue/Clearway) set the tone.
Then came Greg Broderick’s Jorado by the Diamant de Semilly-sire Diarado and out of a Sandro Song dam.
Son of O.B.O.S Quality, Lagan’s OBOS Quality out of a Cavalier Royale dam scored well in the seventies for Kennedy Brothers to bring the first day sport horse tally to three.
The most encouraging outcome came on the second day as four out of five sport horses plus the thoroughbred Jack The Robin ticked most of the boxes.
They included Fiona Sheridan’s Chilli Lion (Chillout/Ard VDL Douglas); HHS Coronet (Coronet/Obolenski) from Marion Hughes; Elaine O’Neill’s Ballyfore First Flight by Cobra out of a TIH Errigal Flight dam and as a final hurrah under saddle, Andrea Etter and Luc Henry’s Celtic Hero B Z by Calikot Hero out of a Caretano Z dam.
He was well ridden for Andrea by Damien Griffin and for the judges by Tholm Keane.
All in all a good two days of work that gives hope for the future.
St Patrick update
A few weeks back we asked the question ‘did St Patrick ever ride a horse?’
Well at the Cavan stallion inspections we got a further clue from Horse Board member Niall Henry. He notes that at Coolaney, there is a stone there named St Patrick’s Horse Shoe.
Embedded in it is the print of a horse shoe.
It still lies near the Holy Well outside the town but sadly it has been covered over by tarmacadam.
Niall says he knows the exact spot where it is and would be glad to give the County Council a helping hand if they were to uncover it once more for everyone to see.
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