Ireland’s Bertram Allen makes his first FEI World Cup appearance of the 2018/2019 season in what is the third round of the series in Verona, Italy this weekend.

Jonty Evans remains in intensive care in Beaumont Hospital after a fall at Tattersalls International Horse Trials on Sunday.

Young Galway rider Michael Duffy could hardly have hoped for a better debut in the Global Champions League when he represented the mostly-Irish Miami Celtics team, riding Efs Top Contender in the opening round of the season in Mexico City at the weekend.

There were some positive moves for Irish riders in the latest Longines rankings issued by the world governing body, the FEI, yesterday.

Ireland’s show jumpers could be in line for a notable treble as they tackle the Wellington Nations Cup this weekend during week eight of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Ireland has two show jumping teams in action this weekend for the first of this year’s nations cup fixtures. Michael Blake takes charge of affairs for the five-star meeting in Ocala, Florida, while Taylor Vard will be overseeing matters at Abu Dhabi’s five-star contest in the UAE.

Now that the Global Champions Tour has concluded for another year, the FEI World Cup series provides the main international show jumping focus in the months ahead.

The latest Longines FEI world rankings saw Irish riders on the move following the European Show Jumping Championship success last month.

Ireland’s show jumping manager Rodrigo Pessoa was understandably disappointed after last Friday’s seventh-place finish in the five-star Nations Cup at St Gallen in Switzerland, even though it was one of the dispensable ones in his calendar.

“I know there is room for improvement and I am confident I can achieve it.”

“Today was her day,” declared show jumper Dermott Lennon of Loughview Lou-Lou after she carried him to victory last night in the five-star grand prix in Gijon, Spain.

Show jumper Denis Lynch is within striking distance of qualifying for the World Cup after finishing runner-up with All Star in the penultimate qualifier in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday.

Shane Sweetnam got “two new toys” for Christmas, Buckle Up and Cobolt, but when it comes to fun, Chaqui Z remains the top plaything.

Trish Ryan and Sam Watson had one thing in common after their dressage tests in the CCI three-star at the Ballindenisk International Horse Trials, in that they were both surprised.

Show jumper Richie Moloney is considering a shot at the World Cup final following his qualifier victory in North Salem, New York on Sunday.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is confident it has a “valid” case as it prepares to file an appeal to the Federation Equestre International (FEI) Tribunal by today regarding the debacle at the European Championships that saw Cian O’Connor impeded in his round and Ireland denied a place in next year’s Olympics.

Ireland’s dominance of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show came to end in yesterday’s feature €200,000 Longines Grand Prix, courtesy of American Kent Farrington.

The Irish team will take to the stage in today’s Furusiyya Series nations cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show aiming to continue some stellar performances by the home contingent.

Ireland is joint second-last in the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series, but it was news to Cian O’Connor yesterday.

Ireland eventing manager Nick Turner believes “there’s a lot to look forward to”, as he announced his squad for September’s European Championships at Blair Castle, Scotland.

Sam Watson is as confident as the capricious sport of eventing will allow that he will give a good account of himself when defending his CIC three-star title at Camphire International Horse Trials this weekend.

Bertram Allen is typically taciturn, even as he frequently proves himself one of show jumping’s most amazing talents, yet even he conceded the manner of his latest triumph in the Global Champions Tour in Paris was extraordinary.

Kildare’s Alexander Butler won the grand prix at the second leg of The Underwriting Exchange Jumping In The City series at Cork’s Curraheen Park Greyhound Track.

Cian O’Connor has been anonymous by his own standards for the past few months, but he gave a powerful reminder of his intent last weekend, when winning the World Cup qualifier at Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida, writes John Tynan.

Kevin Babington rounded off a brilliant weekend for Irish show jumping when second in the $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix in Florida, last night.

Equestrian: US-based riders get the chance to show off their horsepower to Ireland manager Robert Splaine in today’s $200,000 Furusiyya Nations Cup opener in Ocala, Florida, though Kevin Babington got in early last night when winning the 1.50m grand prix qualifier on Mark Q.

Equestrian: Horse Sport Ireland chairman Pat Wall yesterday said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is applying his own stamp to the sport horse sector strategic plan before its publication.

Irish riders failed to make an impression in Saturday’s $372,000 World Cup grand prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, but Darragh Kenny and Conor Swail scored a couple of consolation prizes in the run-up.

Equestrian: "It’s a bit cold for Florida, but it’s all relative, I suppose," joked Conor Swail yesterday.

Show jumper Conor Swail notched up his third win in a fortnight in Florida on Sunday, taking top prize in the $34,000 Suncast Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Equestrian: Thomas Ryan endured what would typically be a frustrating four faults in the World Cup class at Mechelen on Tuesday.

Ireland’s eventers booked their place in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics yesterday when finishing sixth and securing the last qualifying place at the Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France.

Ger O’Neill has a couple of reasons for believing he might win the championship for five-year-old horses at Millstreet International Horse Show.

Cian O’Connor is countenancing no suggestion but victory in today’s Furusiyya Series Nations Cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

A pall was cast over the sport of eventing at the weekend with the deaths of two riders while competing.

Days after another stunning success and days before the Irish squad for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) is announced, it’s a case of what will be will be for eventer Aoife Clark.