Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

IRISH SPORT HORSE STUDBOOK RECLAIMS FIRST PLACE
IN 2012 WORLD EVENTING RANKINGS

THE Irish Sport Horse Studbook has reclaimed first position in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Eventing Studbook rankings.  The studbook had won the eventing rankings every year since the conception of the rankings in 1994 up until 2010 when they finished in second to the Hannovarian studbook and in 2011 when they took third place after the Selle Francais and Hannovarian studbooks.  This year however, the Irish Sport Horse studbook never looked in doubt of winning the eventing rankings and ultimately finished on 1,427 points, over 100 points higher than the Hannovarian studbook, and 355 points ahead of the Holestein studbook who finished in third place.

In addition to winning the WBFSH eventing studbook rankings, the studbook received a further boost with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Mr Medicott, ridden by US event rider Karen O’Connor,  taking first place in the individual eventing rankings.  Bred by Dr Donal Geaney in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, Mr Medicott is by the Irish Sport Horse stallion Cruising and out of Slieveluachra (ISH) by the Thoroughbred stallion Edmund Burke.  Mr. Medicott and Karen O’Connor (USA) had an extremely successful year in 2012 which included finishing in fourth place in the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day and in ninth place in the individual eventing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Chairman of HSI, Mr. Joe Walsh, commented “The Irish Sport Horse is world renowned for eventing and we are delighted to be back on top of the WBFSH rankings   It is also a welcome development that this year two out of the six Irish Sport Horses that contributed to the studbook's victory in the rankings were ridden by Irish riders, Sarah Ennis (IRL), and Capt. Geoff Curran (IRL) of the Army Equitation School.”

The Irish Sport Horse Studbook finished in eighth place in the WBFSH Showjumping Studbook rankings.  The studbook has improved its standing in the showjumping rankings since 2008, when they finished in 11^th place.  Alison Corbally commented “The studbook has made significant process since 2008 when only one Irish Sport Horse was  in the top 200 places of the WBFSH showjumping rankings, this year 10 Irish Sport Horses appear in the top 200”.

The highest placed Irish Sport Horse in the individual show jumping rankings was the World Champion Flexible, ridden by Rich Fellers (USA), who finished in an impressive sixth place.  Bred in Co. Kildare by Edward and Catherine Doyle, Flexible is by Cruising(ISH) and out of the international show jumping mare Flex by Safari (TB).  Flexible and Rich Fellers have had an extremely successful partnership over the past ten years, culminating in winning the 2012 final of the Rolex FEI Show Jumping World Cup on 26^th April in ‘S-Hertogenbosch (NED). This was the first World Cup win for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook and the fact that Flexible, at 16, was the oldest horse in the competition is a great reflection of the longevity and durability of the Irish Sport Horse.

Irish Sport Horse Studbook (ISH) Ranked 1st

WBFSH Eventing Ranking                                                                                    Total Points: 1,427

Irish Sport Horse Studbook (ISH) Ranked 8^th

WBFSH Showjumping Ranking                                                            Total Points: 4,897

Discover the latest innovations in equine nutrition and much, much more at SmartPak.com: