Pony Europeans (Eventing)

[fetlock]

Our pony eventers are currently in Bronze position after the dressage at the European Championships in Poland.

Cross country today starts at 2pm (our time) - in case anyone else wants to watch, here's the link to the livestream

 

[fetlock]

A fantastic result for Ireland, taking team gold and individual silver today.

GB finished fourth in the team event and just out of the individual medals, not having the best of luck with one team member having an unlucky rider fall on the flat yesterday.

Congratulations to these talented ponies and riders.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

It’s fascinating that the vast majority of riders on the Irish team are boys, whereas on the British team the gender ratios are the other way round. I’m so used to seeing hundreds of girls and the odd boy at competitions that the British team seems to be fairly representative of the available pool of riders. Is riding culture in Ireland so different to the UK?

The Irish also won the pony showjumping with an all-boy team!

 

[fetlock]

It’s fascinating that the vast majority of riders on the Irish team are boys, whereas on the British team the gender ratios are the other way round. I’m so used to seeing hundreds of girls and the odd boy at competitions that the British team seems to be fairly representative of the available pool of riders. Is riding culture in Ireland so different to the UK?

The Irish also won the pony showjumping with an all-boy team!

I noticed it was mostly boys. A quick Google doesn't shed any light on why that may be in Ireland but it's something I'd be interested to know too. A wild guess would be Ireland being so rural, with boys being encouraged to ride and also join the Pony Club and so it isn't seen as a sissy thing for boys to do.

 

[Rowreach]

I’m so delighted for the team and Jane who manages them, and Ben’s individual ? such a fantastic result ????????????