Hanley hit by the loss of his top horses

One of Ireland’s foremost show jumpers, Cameron Hanley, has lost the ride on almost all of his top horses.

His sponsor, EuroAsia horses, has opted to move the horses to Swiss rider Pius Schwizer.

“It breaks my heart to say the horses I ride will be moving to another rider,” said Hanley last night.

Among the horses on their way to Switzerland is Antello Z, ridden for Ireland by Hanley at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

Others to be seen in the future under current world No18 rider Schwizer are Amira and Newton du Haut Bois — both competed by Hanley at last weekend’s five-star show in Basel, Switzerland — along with Caretina de Joter, Dundee vd Dwerse Hagen and Player du Quesnoy.

However, the German-based Mayo native has a share in his top mount Living The Dream and, when asked last night if he would retain the horse, he said “we are still in negotiation”.

It is not the first serious blow to be suffered by Hanley, as, in 2011, his career was nearly ended when he ruptured his patella tendon in a freak accident while jumping fences on foot as he played with his children at their German home.

Seventeen operations and a two-year lay-off ensued, before the Mayo rider defied predictions and returned to competitive action in February in 2013.

On his Facebook page, Hanley said yesterday: “I have been very lucky to have been supported by EuroAsia for the last two years and have had the chance to ride some fantastic horses.

“After a long-term injury, EuroAsia helped me get back to a very high level in the sport I love and for this I will always be grateful.

“As a rider who bonds very closely with his horses, it will be hard to let go, but this is part of life and part of our sport. I wish the horses all the success they deserve in the future, they are all stars.”