WITH Christmas barely over, five-star show jumping recommences at Mechelen in Belgium this evening (Sunday), with three of Ireland's top riders battling for prize money and World Cup points.

HORSE Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said today (Thursday) that in the current weather conditions it was important horse welfare was foremost in people's minds. Therefore Horse Sport Ireland has once again asked Dr. Joe Collins, 2010 President of Veterinary Ireland, to recommend procedures for horse owners in Ireland during the current extreme weather conditions.

TO THANK all our Facebook Friends for supporting Team Ireland Equestrian throughout the year, we will be holding a prize draw on Friday 14th January where you can win Team Ireland Equestrian kit worth over €400. Prizes include rugs, jacket, gilet, polo shirts, cap and show socks. All our Facebook Friends will be entered automatically into the draw.

LONDON Olympia's Christmas show is one of the highlights of this weekend's jumping action for Irish riders. For as well as attractions like the Ukrainian Cossacks, the British Household Cavalry and the Shetland Pony Grand Prix, the historic English venue also hosts the seventh leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup series.

LT COL Ronnie MacMahon, Olympic event rider, international coach and advisor and former Officer Commanding at the Irish Army Equitation School, passed away on 11 December.

ROLEX World Cup jumping resumes this weekend in Geneva, Switzerland, with three of Ireland's top-ranked riders taking part in the sixth leg of the 13-show season, which finishes in April next year.

HORSE Sport Ireland, in conjunction with the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs has today (Monday) published ‘A Guide to Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme: Grant Supports for Ancillary Services to the Sport Horse Sector’.

STALLION inspections for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook and the Irish Draught Horse Studbook will be held at Cavan Equestrian Centre on Thursday 10th March and Friday 11th March 2011. The inspections are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. To access application forms please click on the headline above.

SHOW jumping action switches to Paris, France this weekend, where the five-star Gucci Masters sees three days of competition beginning on Friday, and culminating in the 300,000 euro Gucci Masters Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

DUE to the adverse weather conditions the Goresbridge Sport Horse Sale scheduled for Friday 3rd December has now been postponed until Friday 10th December. The Monthly Horse & Pony Sale on Saturday 4th December Is now postponed until Saturday 11th December, weather permitting.