16 Irish-bred event horses take on Pau CCI4*
A total of sixteen Irish-bred event horses take on this years CCI4* at Les estoiles de Pau, France. The event was last won by an Irish-bred in 2008 when Germany’s Bettina Hoy rode the eventing icon Ringwood Cockatoo to victory ahead of Mr Medicott (ISH) in third with his then rider Frank Ostholt, also from Germany.
2008 Pau CCI4* winners Bettina Hoy (GER) riding Ringwood Cockatoo (ISH)
Mr Medicott contests Pau CCI4* again this year ridden by his new rider Phillip Dutton (USA). The chestnut gelding has already participated in two Olympic Games with two separate riders – Frank Ostholt in Beijing 2008 (winning Team gold) and Karen O’Connor in London 2012 (highest placed American combination). 2012 saw Mr Medicott being named the number one event horse in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horse (WBFSH) rankings and also being named the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Horse of the Year.
Mr Medicott (ISH) & Karen O’Connor (USA) – London Olympic Games 2012
Andrew Nicholson rides two of his top Irish Sport Horses in the CCI4* – Mr Cruise Control and Viscount George. Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control already claimed a CCI4* this year when the pair won Luhmühlen in June.
Mr Cuise Control (ISH) & New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson
Ireland’s representatives in the CCI4* are Joseph Murphy and Aidan Keogh, both riding Irish-bred horses. Murhpy rides his Olympic mount Electric Cruise as well as DHI Topstory while Keogh rides Master Tredstep.
Electric Cruise (ISH) & Joseph Murphy (IRL) – London Olympic Games 2012
In total Irish-bred horses are represented on five of the eleven nations competing this year. Want to know where to find your next Irish-bred event horses? Visit www.irishhorsegateway.ie
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