Showjumper: Bid to sell €2m horse thwarted

International showjumper Marion Hughes claims that efforts are being made to obstruct the sale of a horse she has a half share in and for which she has had offers of €2m.

Ms Hughes, from Graigue, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny, has brought Commercial Court proceedings against the other half owner of HHS Figero, Tom O’Dwyer, Cappagh, Callan, Co Kilkenny. The horse came second in the Grand Prix in the Lausanne show last month.

Mr Justice Brian McGovern admitted the case to the Commercial Court but said he would not give any directions on how it should proceed for another 28 days to allow the parties to consider mediation.

Ms Hughes says in an affidavit she bred HHS Figero, which was born in 2006.

When the horse was around six or seven, she entered into a partnership agreement whereby Mr O’Dwyer’s daughter Emma would ride the horse, Mr Dwyer would pay €45,000, with part of that offset by expenses for keeping the animal. Any prize money would be kept by Mr Dwyer to defray expenses.

Ms Hughes says she was anxious to sell the horse in 2015 and had a number of people interested. Mr Dwyer did not want it sold because he wanted to keep it for Emma so she ride it in international competitions.

Ms Hughes says she reluctantly agreed to postpone the sale for another year so Emma could compete in the European championships in Millstreet, Cork, last August.

Since then, however, she says, she has had difficulties communicating with the O’Dwyers and in trying to get the horse vetted before any sale. The horse continued to compete and came second in Lausanne show on September 11. She has had not further contact with the O’Dwyers since then. She believes the animal in probably back in the UK, which is the country Emma competes for, Ms Hughes says.

Following an exchange of letters between solicitors, Mr O’Dwyer was prepared to undertake that the horse would not compete for another four weeks. However, Ms Hughes believes this is the time to sell the horse at its optimum value.

Mr O’Dwyer had already obstructed potential sales to two other buyers, she claims. She believes the court should order the animal be directly transferred to her for the purpose of sale.