Shane Sweetnam believes his 11-year-old mare Siri will be out for up to a year after injuring her tendon in the US nations cup in Florida on Friday night.

FIRST-ROUND clears from Kevin Babington and Shane Sweetnam helped Ireland finish joint second in the USA Nations Cup in Florida on Friday night, just one fault separating them from winners Canada.

Ireland's Steven Smith, riding Mr. & Mrs. J Allwood’s Quality VH became the first Irish eventing rider to win an international competition in 2007, when he finished on a score of 56.8 penalties in the CIC Three Star class at Barroca D’Alva in Portugal yesterday.