Sale of top horses greatest hindrance to Rio ticket

It should come as no surprise that Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine has pinpointed the sale of our top horses as the greatest hindrance to qualifying a team for the Olympics.

This year’s World Equestrian Games present the first opportunity to book a ticket for Rio, but the haemorrhaging of some of our top blue-blood equines is a cause for concern.

Splaine fully understands why some riders/owners capitalise on their investment, particularly when only the bravest could afford to gamble on a horse’s future versus the stake put up by well-financed buyers.