Tributes have been paid to the prolific Irish sports horse stallion Carrick Diamond Lad, who has died aged 31.

Carrick was “part of the family” at Greaghwillan Stud, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, where he was born in 1993. He was by Flagmount Diamond, out of Sky Box XX mare Greaghwillan Pearl.

Although Carrick never had a competition career owing to a near-fatal fetlock injury he sustained as a foal, he quickly became in demand, and an “exceptional sire in every way”.

“We had serious belief in him from day one,” Greaghwillan Stud’s Tom Jones told H&H.

“He was a lamb. You would never think he was a stallion, he would come running up to you in the field and was just so delicate and a loving individual.”

Many of Carrick Diamond Lad’s progeny have gone on to international competition success. These include Private Heart, who was shortlisted for the Athens Olympics in with eventer Leslie Law, Southway, who competed to CCI4* with Sweden’s Ellen Svennerstal, and showjumper Finest Diamond Clover, who competed to grand prix level with Portugal’s Rui Goncalo.

More recently, horses such as Carrick Diamond Bard, Carrick Finest Lad, Diamond Duette, and Kiltown Watson have gone on to succeed in eventing. Greaghwillan Stud also has two young Carrick Diamond Lad sons, Carrick Diamond Royale and Carrick Diamonds Diamond, standing at stud.

“We have been very fortunate with Carrick Diamond Lad,” said Tom. “We’ve sold horses all over the world; America, Kenya, UK, France, Germany, you name it.

“He is known for producing eventers and showjumpers, but he also produces great leisure horses. That was the beauty of him, he produces horses who are trainable and have his temperament, whether it’s for a professional rider or an amateur – I think that’s a tremendous asset in a stallion. He really stamped his stock, you could pick them out like peas in a pod.”

Carrick remained “fit and well right up to his passing peacefully in his stable”, and Tom said he will be greatly missed.

“When he died we received messages, emails and telephone calls from breeders worldwide. He is a sire that will live on through his many offspring,” said Tom.

“Myself and my family were very, very upset by his loss. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of Carrick’s journey, in particular the staff who lovingly cared for him, ensuring he had the long and wonderful life he deserved.”

You might also be interested in:

The Irish Sport Horse — all the facts about this popular breed

Find out everything you need to know about this breed of horse

Eight Brits among 19 riders set to make their Badminton debuts in May

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tributes have been paid to the much-loved sports horse stallion Jackaroo, who was put down on 28 June aged 16.

“So very sad to report that today we said goodbye to Jackaroo,” said William Micklem. “A deteriorating situation with a damaged foreleg gave us no other option.”

Jackaroo was by Master Imp and out of the point-to-point-winning mare High Dolly, who was by Chair Lift.

Jackaroo was known to be approximately 96% thoroughbred, and a much sought-after stallion. His two full brothers are High Kingdom, the five-star stalwart and Olympic team silver medal-winning ride of Zara Tindall at London 2012, and Mandiba, who was ridden at the Beijing Olympics and the 2010 World Equestrian Games by Karen O’Connor.

William said Jackaroo was “always pleased to see you”.

“To say he was loved would be an understatement. Like his Chair Lift dam, High Dolly, and his Olympic full brothers, Mandiba and High Kingdom, he combined an extraordinary gentleness with both joie de vivre and courage,” he said.

“He was just two days old when vet Cormac Hassett MRCVS carried him away from his dead mother, but he survived to become a favourite with all he came into contact with.

“He lived a 15-year life of freedom in a 25-acre section of glorious Wicklow, but special thanks to Gina McCann for her gentle care during his working holidays at Hartwell Stud.”

William said Jackaroo leaves “several high-class performers”, including five of his offspring who have achieved top-10 eventing finishes and working hunter championships in the last fortnight.

“I have two performance-proved broodmares out of his gorgeous full sister Nuff Kisses, both by Puissance, who I know will add significantly to the family story,” said William.

“How lucky I am to have these extraordinary genes and to have had Jackaroo in my life.”

You might also be interested in:

Defending champions list four combinations for European Dressage Championships

‘Memories to last a lifetime’: medals galore for British riders at Special Olympics World Games

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A police horse known for his “cheeky” character and bravery has been named runner-up animal of the year award in a force’s annual awards.

Woodthorpe, known as Woody, came second to police dog Winston in South Yorkshire Police’s operational support unit awards last month. The 16.2hh Irish sport horse joined the mounted section 18 months ago and is ridden by PC Michelle Hudson.

A spokesman for the force said horses and dogs play a “vital” role in protecting and serving communities, adding that they are all “deserving winners and worthy of recognition”.

“Woodthorpe came to us having lived in Ireland and had not done very much at all, being only six when we bought him,” he said. “He has transformed into a confident young police horse. During his very limited service, he has been involved in large-scale disorder and escorted two very loud and volatile crowds during football matches.”

PC Hudson described Woody as having a “cheeky” character, especially when an apple or carrot is close by, and said the gelding does everything asked of him in daunting and stressful situations.

“Woodthorpe has already shown that he is incredibly brave and has made an excellent police horse,” she said.

The gelding was nominated for animal of the year following his bravery in detaining a suspect in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, on 27 June 2019.

“My colleague PC Rachel Reece dismounted from her horse Hoober to stop and search a man who was smoking cannabis. Woody stood quietly while the search was being conducted. The man then ran from PC Reece and without any hesitation about leaving Hoober, Woodthorpe and I pursued the suspect,” said PC Hudson.

“We went on to the road and down towards Hunters Bar where it was very busy with vehicles, before a district officer arrived making a lot of noise with the sirens and managed to arrest the man.”

Article continued below…

Two ‘black beauties’ retire after years of ‘heroic’ public service

One of the gelding’s ‘claim to fame’ is being ridden by Charlotte Dujardin when she visited the police stables

‘Boys, your duty is done’: Two ‘standout’ police horses retire from duty

The pair, who were part of the police escort for Harry and Meghan’s wedding at Windsor, have retired from the

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

PC Hudson added while horses do not like to leave their companions, Woody did this “without question”.

“The noise and things going on around him did not phase him at all. I was incredibly impressed by his behaviour,” she said.

PC Hudson and Woodthorpe were presented the award by the operational support unit’s superintendent Paul McCurray at Ring Farm, Cudworth.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The traditional Irish Sport Horse (ISH) is produced by breeding Irish Draught and thoroughbred bloodlines together producing a sport horse with the size, speed, muscling, and temperament that makes it an excellent athlete. Originally, they were bred as hunters and working animals, but they have excelled at upper level eventing and showjumping. They are highly sought after by eventers all over the world, and ISH sires have topped out the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses eventing studbook for 22 out of the past 24 years.

Initially, Irish Sport Horses were bred for agriculture, transportation, and hunting, but now, not only are they successful FEI horses, they are also a fantastic horse for the amateur rider — they are sure-footed, brave, steadfast, and athletic enough to carry the rider up the levels of their discipline. They still perform in the hunting field, being brave and scopey enough to jump whatever is in front of them, but calm enough to be safe and manageable.

Kidderminster breeder Janet George said: “The best thing about an IDxTB — or a ¾ TB/¼ ID is that even if they don’t have sufficient talent to go to the top as showjumpers (or eventers — and any eventer I know will go for a ¾ TB/¼ ID — they have the speed and the scope — and just enough brain to learn) is that they will still have a market to a lesser rider. The ½, or ¾ TB, when the rest is Irish Draught is usually a great hunter or low level dressage/showjumper/eventer — or even a happy hacker who’ll do TREC or some endurance happily — for your average amateur rider.”

The temperament should be energetic, but intelligent and sensible. The body should be well-proportioned, with a sturdy bone structure, robust loins, and a short, strong back. They have a long neck, which is slightly arched as it comes out of sloping shoulders and a deep chest. The hindquarters are muscular and powerful. They can be almost any colour, including tobiano, overo, roan, and cremello.

In recent generations, European warmblood lines have been added to the breed, ostensibly in an effort to produce more internationally competitive showjumpers.

Of the 10 stallions to either gain approval or pass stage one during the 2018 stallion selections in Cavan, three were warmbloods (two KWPNs and a Belgian warmblood). Seven of them had at least one warmblood parent, and two of them, while designated as ISH, had two warmblood parents. While it increases genetic diversity and gets more Irish horses in the showjumping ring, some competitors and breeders are concerned that the traditional TB-ID lines are being lost.

American four-star eventer Phyllis Dawson wrote for The Horse Network: “These Irish Draught/warmblood crosses may show more toe-flicking flash as youngsters but they often lack the gallop, stamina and heart needed at the highest levels of eventing. The characteristics that give warmbloods that big trot with the long stride and slow tempo do not necessarily help them on the cross-country course or in the hunt field.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

However, the Irish Sport Horse continues to dominate eventing. Recent examples include Classic Moet (pictured top), an Irish mare, winning Badminton 2018 with rider Jonelle Price, and Ballaghmor Class winning Burghley 2017, with Oliver Townend. The ISH has won over 15 Olympic medals in eventing since 1996. And while the breed might not top the breeding world rankings for showjumping, they have been extremely competitive, with over two dozen placings in Olympics and World Championships since 1960.

Sires like Cruising and Clover Hill are highly sought after by showjumper and eventer breeders. Cruising was a champion himself, winning and coming in the top 10 in World Cup and World Championship grand prix tracks, from 1994 to 1999. He has sired numerous progeny, who have gone on to win upper level eventing and showjumping competitions themselves. He has even been cloned and his clones are standing at stud.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A 10-year “roadmap” to help to secure the future of the Irish sport horse industry was launched in Dublin last week (3 March).

A wide range of issues, including enhancing quality through more focused breeding, improving marketing and sales capacity across the industry and increasing participation in the sector are in the report, entitled “Reaching new heights: report of Irish sport horse industry strategy committee”. There are 35 key recommendations.

Simon Coveney, minister for agriculture, food and the marine, “commended” Horse Sport Ireland, Teagasc (the Irish agriculture and food development authority) and the Royal Dublin Society for “combining their expertise to produce the comprehensive report”.

The breeding industry in Ireland hit a crisis point during the recession, with overbreeding resulting in the value of horses plummeting. In 2009, the number of calls reporting abandoned or compromised horses increased by 150% (news, 14 January 2010).

In 2013 Horse Sport Ireland reported that the quality of foals was improving, and that it had seen a significant drop in the number of foals being registered.

Mr Coveney said he had been “conscious of the absence of a coherent vision and plan for the sport horse sector”.

“We have all the natural advantages for horse breeding and production in this country: a natural affinity for the horse, an abundance of horsemanship and world-class riders,” he added.

“I believe that the report provides the framework to harness our resources in order to achieve our goals.”

Horse Sport Ireland chairman, Pat Wall, said that the report was an “important milestone” for the sector.

The minister has also given a commitment to provide funding of up to €2m (£1.4m) for a network of breeder discussion groups to determine best practice.

“The absence of such a local/regional system in the equine sector has limited the opportunities for many breeders to improve their knowledge and skills to meet market demands,” Mr Wall added.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 12 March 2015

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Breeders in Ireland will now have more choice when deciding where to register their sport horses.

The Studbook for Irish and European Sporthorses (SIES) — an independent offshoot of the British-based Anglo European Studbook (AES) — is now up and running.

All currently approved AES stallions in Ireland will be recognised by the new book.

“We heard that breeders were looking for alternatives to the Irish Horse Board,” said SIES’s Henk Minderman.

“We already register 400-500 Irish horses at AES, so to open a stud book in Ireland was logical. A little healthy competition is good for everyone.

“We hope to attract professional breeders and producers with the top event horses and showjumpers, as we already do to the AES.”

He added that two stallion shows are already being set up in Ireland for 16 and 17 April.

Tom McNamara, from Irish sport horse breeding operation Horses in Ireland, agreed, and told H&H: “It would be beneficial to have a choice.”

But H&H sport horse correspondent Carole Mortimer said: “Obviously some people see the need for yet another stud book, but I can’t see it.”

SIES will register foals conceived by artificial insemination from top performance stallions to full pedigree as well as those bred naturally.

Organisers also hope to run stallion gradings in Ireland in 2010 based on the AES system, which has had success in talent-spotting young stallions, including Arko, Tinkas Boy and Rock King.

There are already two sport horse stud books in Ireland — the Irish Horse Board and the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland, which opened earlier this year.

The SIES will be based in Northern Ireland, but is open to all Irish breeders.

Northern Ireland Horse Board, part of the Irish Horse Board, does not feel threatened.

“We’ve had competition before — the more the merrier. But we warn owners to apply for passports that suit them best long term,” said a spokesman.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (25 March, ’10)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is holding three regional public meetings to help prepare a strategic plan for the organisation in an open and transparent way.

HSI hopes the meetings will give people involved in the sport horse sector the chance to have an input into the future direction of the industry.

HSI chairman Joe Walsh said: “Every person who has an interest in the horse sector is welcome to attend these meetings and I would encourage people to come along and have their say.

“Horse Sport Ireland will do its business in an open and transparent way and we are keen to have an input from thee grassroots of the sport into our plan.”

The strategic plan will be the bedrock for the organisation’s work going forward.

Mr Walsh added: “It is vital that we develop a strategic plan for the next three to five years so that we can give the government and sport horse sector a clear plan for the future.

The meetings will be chaired by Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh and will feature a presentation on progress to date by CEO Damian McDonald.

The meetings will take place in the Silver Springs in Cork on Monday 21 April, the Dolmen Hotel in Carlow on Wednesday 23 April and the Hudson Bay Hotel in Athlone on Tuesday 29 April.

All meetings start at 8pm. To book a place tel: Ireland 045 850801

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Irish Horse Board (IHB) has put up a €10,000 prize-fund for each qualifier for this year’s five, six/seven-year-old show jumping championships, and the Cavan final in September.

The series, run on a league system, kicks off at Louth County show on 28-29 April. It is open to Irish Sport Horse, Registered Irish Draught and Irish Draught horses registered with the IHB by a stallion approved in the main studbook with sire and dam documented on the passport.

The IHB has also increased the breeders’ prizes for each qualifier, from €250 per category to €400 per category.

“The series works on a points accumulator, and although last year’s final was by invitation, we are still working out whether the final at Cavan this year should be open,” said IHB marketing and promotions manager, Laura Whelan.

The qualifiers take place at: Punchestown (17-20 May), Mullingar (2-4 June), Millstreet (9-10 June, Galway County (16-17 June), Ballina (6-8 July), Tattersalls (21-22 July), Limerick (25-26 August) with the final at Cavan (31 August-2 September).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now