Galway bred Codarco & Luibanta BH to make Nations Cup debut in Wellington

Francis Murray General March 3, 2017

Two Irish Sport Horses, both bred in County Galway, will make their Nations Cup debut in the $150,000 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida.

USA’s Chloe Reid will ride the Irish Sport Horse stallion Codarco (Darco x Orame) with whom she has been competing for the past two years. Codarco was bred at Galway Equestrian Centre by the O’Brien family. The 10 year old stallion was produced successful through the young horse classes in Ireland by Thomas O’Brien, representing Ireland and the Irish Sport Horse studbook at the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses, before being sold to Ireland’s Billy Twomey.

Chloe Reid (USA) & Codarco (ISH). Photo credit: Erin Gilmore / NoelleFloyd.com

Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire and the Irish Sport Horse mare Luibanta BH (Luidam x Abantos) both make their Nations Cup debut at Palm Beach Equestrian Center tonight. Luibanta BH was bred by Justin Burke in Galway Bay Stud and was sold to the UK as a three year old. It was there that Ellen Whitaker brought the talented mare up through the grades winning a number of international young horse classes.

Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) & Luibanta BH (ISH). Photo: WIHS / Shawn McMillen Photography

The Nations Cup starts at 00.00 GMT (Saturday morning). Team Ireland is 4th to go with a team consisting of Shane Sweetnam with Chaqui Z, Paul O’Shea with Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, Conor Swail with Rubens LS La Silla and Cian O’Connor with Seringat. The full rider list can be found HERE.

The Irish Horse Gateway team would like to wish these Irish Sport Horses well in their Nations Cup debut. Best of luck to Team Ireland! The competition will be available to watch live HERE.

Breeding details of above Irish Sport Horses

Codarco (ISH) – 2007 bay stallion by Darco (BWP) out of Vereedom G (KWPN), by Orame (KWPN). Breeder: Thomas O’Brien, Co. Galway. Owner: Chloe D Reid LLC. Rider: Chloe Reid (USA)

Luibanta BH (ISH) – 2008 mare by Luidam (KWPN) out of Mabanta (KWPN), by Abantos (KWPN). Breeder: Justin Burke, Co. Galway. Owner: David Gochman. Rider: Amanda Derbyshire (GBR)