The All Ireland Finals were held at Tubberbride Equestrian Centre on Saturday and Sunday 19th and 20th of March. This year is the first year where all young riders wishing to attend the National Training Clinic have to qualify through a selection process to gain entry to the clinic.
Each region held an assessment weekend from which ten young riders were selected to attend the All Ireland Finals. These forty riders were then assessed in flatwork and jumping.

Niall Quirke judged the flatwork on Saturday where each rider was given five minutes in the arena to display the skills they have learnt at the many training sessions held throughout the country. Niall was very impressed at the standard of riding and commented on the huge improvement in the athletes emphasising the benefits of attending training.

On Sunday the showjumping section was judged by Neal Fearon, with the riders having to show their skill over a technical 1.20 track. The athletes had to demonstrate their ability to ride related distances, bending lines and other disciplines required to compete at a high level.

At the end of a long but hugely successful weekend the results were announced, where the top three from each region gained entry along with the next highest scoring eight riders. The successful riders were Munster: Pat Sheehan, Hannah Bendon and Madeline Roberts-Allen, Ulster:Aishling Doherty, Victoria Clarke and Mark Harley, Connaught: Michael Duffy, Jack Dodd and Kate MacDonagh, Leinster: Hayley Dunne, Ciara Morris and Kate Bruton. The other riders are Sophie Dalm, Olivia Burns, Eimear Kelly, Sorcha Tarpey, Patricia Stewart, Emily Horgan, Suzy Short and Shannon Mackenzie.

Chairperson of the National Training Committee Katy Saunders thanked Francie and Noeleen Kerins for their fantastic facilities, hospitality and dedication to detail over the weekend, also the regional reps Liam Murphy, Rosemary Rice and Paul Mackenzie for all their hard work and Mackey Ireland for their sponsorship of this very exciting initiative to train the top young riders in Ireland.

The training committee wishes all these athletes a very successful and educational week at the clinic to be held at Barnadown from 16th – 20th April and for great results during the up coming season. The trainers for the clinic are Flat –Niall Quirke, Anne Marie Dunphy and Anna Dangerfield and Showjumping – Ian Fearon, Cian O’Connor and Neal Fearon. (Photos below courtesy of Monica Flanagan, Moylaw, Crossmolina, Co Mayo, 087 2757121)

Jack Dodd in action

Sue Shortt in action

Michael Duffy in action

All the riders at the All Ireland Finals Tubberbride

The Mackey All Ireland Finals

Judges and Organisers at the Mackey All Ireland Finals, Tubberbride

Last Sunday, 13th March, I brought Luxie to Kill just to school around the 1.20 as it was her first show. I have been having a small problem with shoes with her and a few changes were needed but I’m hoping that all will be well in time to have her in the Maryville grand prix, fingers crossed!

On Monday a new horse arrived to the yard, called Amigo. He is a big boy, standing at 17.2hh, but he is a gentle giant! He is a six year old with nothing done but with a big jump. Unfortunately he was only here a few hours when I noticed a little mark on his knee. After a few hours it swelled up and it didn’t look good! We got him straight to the vets and he was treated for infection. However, by the end of the week it had improved and the vet has been pleased with the improvements! Hopefully he will be back here to the yard soon.

Big news though as Caloux Z has been sold! He left for Miami last weekend. He will be living in New York and Florida, lucky boy! We are very happy for him, even though we will miss him. He is, of course, heading off in his Mackey Ireland rug as I want him to stay in a good, warm Irish rug. Good luck Caloux Z!

Charlie on his way to dinner!

Colin enjoying some exercise out in the sun!

A recent article in the Horse and Hound asked the question “Booting-up: help or a hindrance?”
It goes without saying that the wrong boot can be a hindrance to the horse. Boots are used primarily to provide protection or support. There is minimal information to suggest that boots can provide effective support, and using boots to restrict movement can lead to the creation of new problems elsewhere. However, the many structures within the leg are all vulnerable to injury and this risk can be reduced by the use of appropriate boots, but these benefits need to be balanced against increased risks from additional weight, restriction of movement or blood supply, and overheating.

Very stiff boots can restrict the range of movement of the lower leg, compromise tendon function, lead to soft tissue injury, and/or affect stride characteristics and performance. The ideal boot is a flexible, light boot that provides an adequate level of protection for the intended discipline whilst allowing the leg’s natural cooling process of perspiration and evaporation.

The horse owner should ultimately decide whether or not their horse needs to wear boots, but the following story from Beverley House Stables may provide food for thought.

“I just wanted to let you know about an incident yesterday, in which we’re almost certain that the Tri-Zone Allsports boots saved the life of one of our horses, or at the very least saved him from a career-ending injury.

We’ve a young hurdler called Alcalde, whom we hope might develop into a good horse. He’s won a couple of nice staying races on the flat. Anyway, he had his second run over hurdles yesterday. He’s a good and sure jumper but during the race he made what was his first mistake at a hurdle, just meeting it slightly wrong and landing awkwardly. He finished the race in sixth place but wasn’t ever really travelling well after the mistake. It seems that when he landed he struck into his off-fore with such force that he has sliced into the boot. The polycarbonate strip is still intact, though you can see the mark where he struck it. All we can say is ‘thank God he was wearing them’ and thank you, of course, for making such very good boots.

This morning there’s quite a bit of filling around the tendon, just bruising, and he has an abrasion just above the back of his fetlock joint. He feels a bit sorry for himself but it’s nowhere near as bad as it could have been if he’d been wearing another brand or none at all. We think a lot of this horse and, as I type, I can see his head over his stable door. I’m just very, very glad that he’s still with us, as is John, who rides him every day and has a very big soft spot for him.

The latest update: I’m delighted to say that Alcalde, who struck into himself a few weeks ago at Plumpton, returned to the racecourse today with a brand new pair of Allsports boots and won his first race by 12 lengths. Onwards and upwards!” Beverley House Stables, Newmarket.

Equilibrium Products is fully committed to providing the best in equine leg protection through thorough and independent testing of all our boots. Read more about Equilibrium’s Boot Testing here. Mackey Ireland is the exclusive distributor of Equilibrium Products in Ireland.

The first exams in ShowjumpingIreland’s new 5 Bar Training System took place in Mullingar Equestrian Centre last Saturday under the watchful eye of Ian Fearon.

Roisin Fagan, Jessica Kuehnle, Grace McGrath, Maria Sullivan, Taylor Cummins, Aisling McGreel, Killian Norris, Clodagh Tuite, and Conan Wright all passed the first formal exam in the new ShowjumpingIreland 5 Bar Training System.

Supported by Mackey Ireland, the new system aims to appeal to a wide range of the SJI Membership and support in raising and maintaining the standards of all levels of rider. The series of progressive standards will provide riders with a focus for their training. All of the criteria have been designed to help make a difference to performance in the ring.

The 5 Bar Training System takes in all aspects of the Horse World both in and out of the saddle.

H S I coach Ian Fearon, has been working with the 9 young riders who took on the first exam for over the past six weeks for the Leinster region S J I training at Mullingar Equestrian Centre organised by Rose-Mary Rice.

Following the exam Ian said ‘’by the end of these sessions these riders were able to ride basic flatwork and grid work, ride a course of fences showing a good position, with rhythm, balance and control with the emphasis on straightness. They also show good transitional work, from walk, trot and canter.’’

There were also Classroom sessions in which the Riders had questions to answer on topics such as Stable Management, Animal Welfare and preparation for shows.

Fearon then continued; ‘’I was very happy with the progressive training and I was delighted to credit the 9 Riders with their Bar 1 Badges of the SJ I National 5 bar training syste. supported by Mackey Ireland.’’

‘’The beauty of this scheme is the riders will all benefit, whether it be new families coming into Showjumping in Ponies, Juniors, Young Riders, Amateurs, Seniors with an accredited

Coach – giving them a chance to use and go through the 5 Bar Training System. It’s a great opportunity to bring on their skills in horsemanship and Showjumping.’’

Details on further Training sessions and exams will be found in the SJI Bulletin during the coming months.

Equilibrium Products, the company behind the Tri-Zone®Airlite range of boots was the delighted recipient of an Innovation Award at the BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association) International Trade Fair. The Tri-Zone® Airlite Tendon and Fetlock boots won the title of Most Innovative Product in the prestigious Saddlery and Tack section.

Each year, BETA International brings the best and brightest new ideas in the equestrian industry together under one roof, allowing the most innovative companies to showcase their developments. The BETA Innovation Awards celebrate new products that will appeal to the trade and consumers alike.

Working from the results of three years of research and testing with scientists, vets and professional riders, Equilibrium has developed a highly innovative new tendon and fetlock boot. Using the latest high-tech materials, Equilibrium has created ‘Airlite’ technology in a range of boots designed to deliver high protection whilst maintaining lightness, flexibility and breathability.

The team of judges who included avet, an international judge and selector, an equestrian commentator and Olympic event rider, commented, “We were extremely impressed with the extensive research and testing carried out by Equilibrium. It was interesting to see the way in which they had used their results to create a new technology that would address the problems of overheating caused by standard equine boots.We thought that they were competitively priced for such a high quality product – particularly one that is backed by such thorough research.”

Laura Cutter, Marketing Manager at Equilibrium Products, says, “We were delighted to win this award showing that the industry has recognised the importance ofa boot with high levels of leg protection balanced against potentially negative factors. All of our boots are thoroughly and independently tested before launch. We believe that horse boots are safety equipment and therefore deserve the same diligence in testing as any safety product. In our opinion, until now no other tendon and fetlock boot has been able to address all these issues in one product.”

Mackey Ireland is the exclusive distributor of Equilibrium’s range of quality, innovative products in Ireland. Watch out for the award winning Tri-Zone® Airlite Boots in a retail store near you…soon!