“IF your horse is found to have a banned substance in its system, you are looking at a two-year suspension,” FEI Veterinary Director Graeme Cooke warned riders competing at this week’s Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. The warning came at the riders’ briefing before the start of five days of competition in Geneva

THE BRITISH Open Show Jumping Championships take place in Birmingham, England this weekend, with four Irish riders - Dermott Lennon, Billy Twomey, Shane Breen and Alex Duffy - taking part. Meanwhile, Jessica Kurten has confirmed her horses for next week's Rolex FEI World Cup Final.

The FEI has announced the launch of the online FEI Prohibited Substances Database which is now available on www.feicleansport.org.. The purpose of this new database is to provide clear guidance on the substances included in the Equine Prohibited Substances List coming into effect on 5 April 2010.

IRELAND'S University team were triumphant at Leuven in Belgium last night (Sunday) when winning both the overall team and individual titles. Suzie Cave took the Individual winner's rosette in Dressage and Jumping, and was also a member of the victorious Irish team that included Sara Glynn and Anthony Byrne.

IRISH riders will compete at a total of ten international shows this Easter weekend, including show jumping, dressage, eventing and vaulting. In show jumping Jessica Kurten and Denis Lynch line out from today Thursday at the rich five star show in Paris, France, where Sunday's Grand Prix boasts a prize fund of 200,000 euro.

SHOW jumping moves up to five-star level this weekend, with Irish riders competing in the World Cup show at 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, and also at Wellington in Florida, where half a million dollars is on offer in Saturday's Grand Prix. Jessica Kurten and Denis Lynch are the Irish entries at the Dutch show, and both will hope to make an impact in Sunday's World Cup Qualifier.

LAST night (Tuesday, 23 March) the Greenwich Council's Planning Committee voted in favour of the planning application submitted by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for the temporary use of land at Greenwich Park for the London 2012 Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events.

THE RDS will host a new International competition for 7 & 8 year old show jumping horses at the 2010 Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show. This new class is the first recommendation adopted from the RDS Expert Breeding Group, set up under the Chairmanship of Dr Patrick Wall.

JESSICA Kurten today (Wednesday) scooped The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council ‘Sportswoman of the Month Award’ for February, her seventh time to win the category since the awards began in 2004.