EN Today: Irish horses top in world eventing ranking
Irish Sport Horses rock at eventing, and the latest World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Eventing Studbook rankings make it official. Kate Samuels has the report.
Top photo: Overall 2012 leader in World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses ranks, Mr. Medicott (photo by Samantha)
From Kate:
Irish Sport Horses have come out as winners this year in the 2012 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Eventing Studbook rankings. Led by horses such as Mr. Medicott, Imperial Cavalier and Trading Aces, the Irish horses trumped second placed Hanoverian Studbook and third placed Holsteiner Studbook. Last year’s winner the Selle Français was bumped down to fourth place, despite the efforts of horses like Manoir de Carneville, Otis Barbotiere and Opgun Louvo.
Our own Mr. Medicott, piloted by Karen O’Connor, was named individual leader for Eventing, with 364 total points. Bred by Dr Donal Geaney in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, Mr Medicott is by the Irish Sport Horse stallion Cruising and out of Slieveluachra (say that five times fast) by the Thoroughbred stallion Edmund Burke. Kirby Park Allofasudden, an Australian Thoroughbred, took second place with 312 points, while FRH Butts Avedon, a Hanoverian, was third with 284 points. Surprisingly, European/World/Olympic Champion La Biosthetique Sam was only fourth with 272 points.
Unsurprisingly, the Irish Sport horse has won the eventing title almost every year since the beginning of the rankings in 1994. In 2010 they were second to the Hanoverian Studbook, and in 2011 they were third behind the Selle Français (whoot whoot!) and the Hanoverian, but this year they reclaimed their golden title again. This year they finished a full 104 points ahead of the Hanoverians, and 355 points ahead of the Holsteiners.
The “Fernhill Fabulous-ness” and the “Cooley Command” have been hard to miss in the Eventing world as of late, and for good reason. Those Irish horses are raised right. They are fancy enough to beat the pants off of you in dressage, and then don’t give a hoot about anything on cross country, because it’s all pansy stuff compared to their homeland anyway. The English and Australian Thoroughbred used to be the cream of the crop, but it’s hard to deny the appeal of the Irish Sport Horses.
As a point of interest, the Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) won the world rankings in Dressage, and the Holsteiners took the top prize in Show Jumping. For full results in all disciplines, both overall breed and individual, see the 2012 WBFSH Rankings.
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