Irish Army Equitation School

The Equitation School (Irish: An Scoil Eachaíochta) is a centre of excellence of the Defence Forces dedicated to competing at the highest level of international equestrian competition. It is based at McKee Barracks in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.

Army Equitation School
Irish: Scoil Eachaíochta an Airm
Active1926–present
CountryIreland
BranchArmy
TypeEquestrianism
Part of Defence Forces
Garrison/HQMcKee Barracks, Dublin
Motto(s)Promoting Ireland and the Irish horse.
Websitewww.military.ie/en/who-we-are/army/equitation-school/
Commanders
Officer CommandingLieutenant colonel Tom Freyne[1]

Brief history

The Army Equitation School was founded in 1926 by Judge William E. Wylie, a prominent member of the Royal Dublin Society, Quartermaster general Colonel Michael Hogan and President of the Executive Council (modern-day Taoiseach) William T. Cosgrave.[2][3]

Russian riding instructor Colonel Paul Rodzianko, appointed Chief Instructor of the Equitation School (1928 to 1931) by the Minister for Defence, was instrumental in the early competitive successes of the Equitation School. Between 1931 and 1939 the Equitation School went on to win 20 Nations Cups in the cities of Lucerne, Dublin, Boston, Toronto, New York City, Nice, Amsterdam, London, and Aachen.[2]

Overview

Army riders have represented Ireland at the Olympic Games, Show Jumping World Championships and European Show Jumping Championships in the disciplines of show jumping and three-day eventing. The Equitation School has helped the Irish team to numerous victories in the Aga Khan Trophy at the RDS Arena.[4] All Army riders are of officer rank and compete only on Irish-bred sport horses.[5]

The Equitation School, through its involvement with the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE), has trained such jockeys as Johnny Murtagh, Kieren Fallon, Jimmy Quinn and Conor O’Dwyer.[2]

The school also has significant influence on national and supranational equestrian bodies. Both serving and retired Army Equitation School officers sit on committees and boards of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI), Show Jumping Association of Ireland, Eventing Ireland and the RDS Equestrian Committee. The Equitation School has contributed to the development of training and coaching in the Irish and international sport horse industry, with a number of programmes created by the school being adopted by national and international bodies as the standard.[5]

The Equitation School took in over €73,000 in prize money at national and international events in 2012. The budget to run the school for 2012 amounted to €2.26 million. 50% of prize money is shared with the school's riders. 100% of the costs of the school is paid by the Irish taxpayer.[6] The Irish horse sport industry is worth an estimated €800 million to the Irish economy.[3]

Current riding officers
Army horse, Mo Chroí, at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS in 2011
RankNameJoined Equit Sch
CaptainGeoffrey Curran2003
LieutenantDavid Power2010
Second lieutenantJennifer Larkin2015
LieutenantCharlene Kehoe2016[7]

See also

References
  1. "Lt Col Freyne takes charge at Army Equitation School". The Irish Field. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. "Equitation School History". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. Johnston, D (25 June 2013). "The Irish Equitation School – flying the flag for Irish horses since 1926". Horse Sport Ireland. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. "The Equitation School". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. "School Core Activities". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  6. Tynan, John (22 March 2013). "Army Equitation School under the microscope". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. "Riding Officer Profiles". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 25 February 2017.

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