Cork Summer Show boosts the Irish hunter

CORK Summer Show will support breeders of the traditional Irish hunting horse with a new showing class next weekend.

The Irish-Bred Ridden Hunter Championship aims to counter the increasing use of Continental warmblood breeds - a trend which could decrease availability of the traditional Irish hunter.

The Irish Horse Board has put up €1,500 for the Cork show class, an initiative welcomed by well-known horse show judge and horse producer, Katie Jerram, who says in a Cork Summer Show press release: “It’s sad that Irish breeders are moving away from the Irish draught-thoroughbred cross - to me, the best in the world - and are using warmblood stallions on Irish mares,” she says.