Cian O’Connor reunited with Blue Loyd 12

Irish showjumper Cian O’Connor will be reunited with his bronze medal-winning Olympic ride Blue Loyd 12 at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in St Gallen next Friday (31 May).

The 13-year-old Landor S gelding was sold to Canadian rider Nicole Walker at the end of 2012, but has been made available for Cian to ride at the second of Ireland’s point-scoring Nations Cup rounds in Switzerland.

“This is an exceptionally generous gesture by Nicole, as there is no doubt Blue Loyd will greatly enhance Ireland’s competitiveness at St Gallen,” said Ireland’s high performance manager Robert Splaine.

“Under the 2013 rules, we have just four venues where we can gain world series points, so we need the very best horsepower available to us — and they don’t come much better than Blue Loyd.”

Great Britain’s squad for St Gallen — which, for them, will not be a point-scoring round — consists of Peter Charles (Odie De Frevent), Scott Brash (Hello Ursula XII), Jo Clee (Diablesse De Muze), Laura Renwick (Oz De Breve) and Guy Williams (Titus).

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.