Mervue Equine to sponsor the Broodmare Futurity class at this year’s RDS Dublin Horse Show

The RDS is delighted to welcome Mervue Equine as the sponsor of the innovative Broodmare Futurity class at this year’s Dublin Horse Show, which takes place from Wednesday, the 14th to Sunday, the 18th of August inclusive.  The class, which was first introduced in 2010, centres around the identification of potential high-calibre mares from the three, four, five and six year old national show jumping classes.    

The class seeks to highlight and promote the best young mares in the country, based on their breeding and performance, so that Ireland may once again enjoy success of the top echelons of the sport of show jumping, and re-establish a strong sport horse breeding industry.  These mares have the potential to be, or to produce, the top performance horses of the future.     

The RDS, concerned by the absence of Irish-bred horses in top-level show jumping took decisive action in 2010, in order to develop an internationally competitive, export led, sport horse breeding industry once more.   To do so, it was determined that superior genetics must be identified, highlighted, and promoted, and made accessible to a greater numbers of breeders.  The Futurity concept formed part of a drive to address these breeding concerns, and it also served to create awareness amongst breeders of the need for performance genetics and strong dam lines, in particular.  

The class met its objectives early on, when identifying high-profile winners such as Claddagh Cruise On, the 2010 winner and Arraghbeg Clover, the victor in 2013.  Claddagh Cruise On was subsequently purchased and produced to 1.40m level by Cian O’Connor and is now part of Ennisnag Stud’s breeding enterprise in Co. Kilkenny.  Arraghbeg Clover won the Gold Medal at the World Breeding Championship for Five Year Old in Lanaken, Belguim later that year, under Greg Broderick, and was subsequently competed at international level with Max Kϋhner (AUT) and Olga Chechina (RUS).   

Each year two internationally renowned judges are invited to observe and score each mare competing in the Young Horse Show Jumping Championships – the Three-Year-Old Loose Performance, the Four-Year-Old, Five-Year-Old and Six-Year-Old show jumping horses.  These classes commence on Thursday of the Show and culminate with the Broodmare Futurity Final, which takes the format of an in-hand class, on the Sunday of the Show.  Eight mares will qualify for the final, two from each age category.   

A part of the judging exercise is to assess the potential strength of the maternal dam line and how this might contribute to a breed improvement programme to produce better Irish bred show jumping horses through the next and subsequent generations.  

The Final offers a prize fund of €6,750 which is broken down as follows - 1st €3,000, 2nd €1,500, 3rd €750, 4th €500, 5th €250, 6th €250, 7th €250, 8th €250. 

Commenting on the new sponsorship, Show Director, Pat Hanly noted “...the RDS ethos for the competition - supporting excellence in breeding, performance bloodlines and the longevity of the Irish breeding industry - aligns closely with Mervue Equine’s mission to promote excellence in equine health and performance.  Correct nutrition is key to producing the equine superstars of the future, and Mervue’s wide range of equine products from pre and pro-biotics, to its well-known mineral and vitamin supplement, Equiboost, and innovative, EquoCalmin, which is especially formulated to lay the foundation for a horse’s future success, by ensuring the pregnant mare has the correct balance of nutrients, will aid Irish breeders and producers in achieving this”. 

 Head of Mervue Equine, Ciara Watt commented ’’Mervue Equine is headquartered in Cork and has a long-standing history of supporting showjumping in Ireland. We are delighted to add the Broodmare Futurity Class to our sponsorship portfolio to reaffirm our support to the industry. Mervue Equine will also be exhibiting at the show this year showcasing the complete equine range to maximise equine health and performance.‘’ 

ABOUT MERVUE EQUINE 

Mervue Equine is a privately-owned Irish company established in Cork in 1986 to manufacture and supply high performance nutritional health products to Ireland and the global equine market. All Mervue Equine products are manufactured to the highest quality standards under EU licence, UFAS, BETA NOPS and GMP+ feed quality standards. The team of nutrition experts are dedicated to utilising the science of nutrition to formulate and manufacture the best quality equine supplements, combining the latest research and a shared passion for equine health.