Horse trainer and producer Deirdre Bourns, who was left tetraplegic after a horse knocked her down and trampled on her at a showjumping event, has brought a High Court action seeking more than €900,000 in damages.

Shane Sweetnam may have offloaded his top ride last year, but that does not mean he is ready to relinquish his position as a stalwart of the Irish team.

Ireland eventing manager Nick Turner conceded he “had to make a few difficult phonecalls in the last few days” as he finalised his squad for next month’s European Championships.

Robert Splaine is hoping the team that placed second in last year’s US nations cup will get his new term as manager off to a good start today when they line out in Florida.

Show jumper Andrew Bourns led a clean sweep for Ireland in Sunday’s $50,000 Hermès Derby at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

After seven years making sometimes difficult decisions, Robert Splaine is realistic to know his reappointment as Ireland show jumping manager may not be greeted with unanimous acclaim.

Showjumping Ireland is to investigate the serious injury of Deirdre Bourns, mother of international showjumper Andrew Bourns, after she was struck by a horse at Cavan Equestrian Centre Indoor Championships on Wednesday.

Ireland’s show jumpers battled to second place in the world’s richest nations cup on a superb weekend that saw their compatriots pick up medals at the European Junior Eventing Championships and in the pentathlon at the Junior World Championships.

Shane Sweetnam was disappointed when Cian O’Connor was selected ahead of him for the Olympics... and the rest is history.

Cian O'Connor brought his Olympic bronze medal winning horse Blue Loyd out for this evening's Longines Grand Prix climax to the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, and took home €30,000 for a third place finish.

Ireland achieved a season’s best result in FEI Top League yesterday, when fourth in the Dutch Nations Cup in Rotterdam.

Ireland is almost certain to have a dressage rider at the Olympics, with Anna Merveldt the likely contender.

Eventing rider Sam Watson pulled off a stunning recovery to finish eighth in the three-star at Saumur, France, yesterday.

Three Irish riders were in the prize money at last night's World Cup Grand Prix in Wellington, Florida, but it was Britain's Scott Brash who took victory with Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof in an 11-horse jump off.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine and his high-performance committee have compiled selection criteria to determine who will represent Ireland at the Olympics, following a request from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

WITH the battle for individual places at the Olympics intensifying, Billy Twomey achieved an important fourth place in the lucrative grand prix at Basel, Switzerland, yesterday.

FRANCIS CONNORS was in a rush to get back to winning ways yesterday after being laid off for the summer through injury, when taking the honours in the first open horse class, a one-round speed contest, at Millstreet Indoor Show.