The Epsom Derby is always a thrilling watch, even if you’re viewing on a mobile phone huddled around a tiny screen on the World War II landing site of Utah Beach.

Riders of the Trail To Zero project managed to gather around the phone on Saturday and cheer home Auguste Rodin for Aidan O’ Brien, all while 16 former racehorses and polo ponies were tacked up ready for the ride of a lifetime.

I spent a lot of time considering how much we have to thank our horses for while I was with the Trail To Zero Normandy project last week. The power of horses to support humans in life and in sport dates back to 3500 BC and it remains unwavering – we ask, they give.

The Trail To Zero event comprised of two 20km rides to raise awareness for veteran suicide – statistics show that 20 veterans take their own lives every day in the USA.

Headed-up by BraveHearts, the largest equine-assisted programme in the United States, this powerful charity ride was achieved in collaboration with Racing to Relate who promote the thoroughbred in equine assisted learning.

Former racehorses

The ride was a truly international affair with USA, UK and French veterans riding, plus support riders from equine therapy providers across the globe, including Ireland’s Lisa Coffey, founder of Racing Hearts in Australia.

The two rides through Deauville and then Utah Beach were accompanied by a day-long symposium hosted by Horses and Humans Research Foundation called The Universal Language of the Horse.

Guest speakers included Molly McCluskey from One Equine in Northern Ireland, alongside some of the best equine therapists and welfare charities in the world – including Horseback UK, Au-Dela Piste and the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses.

The events united people from across the world who all have the horse-human relationship at the heart of what they do, and it’s exciting to think what may come of these collaborations in the future.

Nations Cup

On the sporting front, last week was a great one for Ireland. Sunday saw the Irish Senior Eventing team of Sarah Ennis, Joseph Murphy, Jennifer Kuehnle and Ian Cassells claim third place at the FEI CCIO4* Nations Cup in Millstreet, Co. Cork.

In the CCI4*-L competition Camilla Speirs was the best of the Irish, finishing in fifth place with the Irish Sport Horse BT Angelo.

Canadian victory

Following the recent first ever victory in the Rome leg of the Nations Cup, the Underwriting Exchange Irish Senior Show Jumping team entered the Longines FEI Show Jumping Nations at the CSIO5* show in Langley.

Michael Blake’s team of Shane Sweetnam with his Aga Khan-winning mount James Kann Cruz (ISH), Daniel Coyle with Gisborne VDL, David Blake with Claude and anchor man Conor Swail with Nadal Hero and DB claimed the Canadian victory.