Cian O’Connor will give Blue Loyd his first international outing since the Dublin Horse Show when he travels to Caen, France, next week.

The temperature in Rome was high yesterday, matched by the spirit in the Irish camp, if Billy Twomey is any sort of barometer.

The FEI Nations Cup Series begins today in La Baule, France, and, important as it is, it will play second fiddle to the Olympics.

Nick Skelton delivered a masterful display under intense pressure as Great Britain’s showjumpers won the Dublin round of this year’s FEI Nations Cup series today.

NO surprise that Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine regrets the loss of K Club Lady and Temple Road, who have both been sold to Ukranian gas magnate Alexander Onishchenko.

JAYNE DOHERTY’S dressage performance yesterday saw her the Irish standard bearer in the CCI three-star class at Tattersalls Horse Trials.

IF experience can buy one thing, it is the ability to deal with success and failure... and Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine has more than enough experience to handle the proverbial two sides of the same coin.

THE announcement on Monday of the Irish nations cup quintet for the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show (August 8-12) allows the chance for a more educated guess as to the make-up of the squad for the European Championships, which take place the following week.