At both the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow and the World Young Horse Show Jumping Championships in Lanaken, Belgium, Ireland’s youth in terms of horses, riders and handlers will be on display next week.

For the second year running the National Ploughing Championships will play host to the final of the Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Young Handlers Series. Later in the week, 18 of our best five, six and seven-year-old horses, mostly ridden by young riders, will be vying for medals in Lanaken.

At last year’s Young Horse Championships our five-year-olds, ridden by Richard Howley, Darragh Ryan and Mikey Pender, set a new record filling the top three places. Speaking about last year’s success Chef d’Equipe John Ledingham said: “Up against hundreds of horses it is a great honour for any one of ours to get on the podium; three is extraordinary.”

Another strong team

For Lanaken this year Ireland are sending five seven-year-olds, seven six-year-olds and five five-year-olds to contest the championships. Among them are some traditional Irish-bred horses (TIH) such as the five-year-old Dawsons Gold, ridden by Ger O’Neill, the gelding is by Flexible and out of Carnalway Gold (Kildalton Gold).

Another TIH called Dawson’s Flex has recently been purchased by Bertram Allen from John Kearney. Allen will take up the ride from Jason Foley in the six-year-old class. Former medal winner Mikey Pender has three entered, he rides two horses owned by Marion Hughes in the six-year-old division and one in the seven-year-old section which he co-owns with Marion and her husband Miguel.

Also in for a busy week is European Junior gold medallist Kate Derwin. She goes with the seven-year-old Ita Brennan-bred MHS Fernhill Showtime, and Carol Gee’s Check Your Pocket in the five-year-olds.

Jessica Burke also heads to the championships with two horses. The remainder of the Irish squad is made up with riders bringing one horse each – Jason Foley, Oisin Aylward, Kevin Gallagher, Sean Kavanaugh, Tim Page, Damien Griffin, Jack Ryan, Derek Mc Connell and Edward Doyle Jr.

Young handlers

Out of six qualifying rounds held at summer shows around Ireland a total of 23 Young Handlers will compete in the HSI Final.

Thirteen will compete in the junior section and 10 in the seniors. Each handler will show their own horse or pony, present a video, and discuss with the judges the merits of their preferred stallion. Last year’s inaugural event was a real hit at the Ploughing Championships. If you are at Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow on Tuesday morning next then do take in this wonderful event. It is well worth a look.