IQHA Spring Newsletter
- Irish Quarter Horse Assoc.
- 29 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The IQHA Spring Newsletter April 2026.
A Fantastic Start to the 2026 Season for the Irish Quarter Horse Association!
The first months of 2026 have been filled with activity, learning, celebration, and community spirit for the Irish Quarter Horse Association.
From outreach initiatives and fundraising events to the Annual General Meeting and the highly anticipated IQHA Spring Show with AQHA affiliated classes, members have enjoyed a busy and rewarding start to the year. With great participation across all activities, the continued growth of Western riding in Ireland is clearly evident.
IQHA Youth Shine at local St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
Despite wind and rain, the IQHA youth members proudly participated in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade with a beautifully decorated float.
A special thank you goes to the youth members who played a key role in designing and decorating the float.
Their creativity and enthusiasm were rewarded when the float received a prize of €100, bringing smiles all around.
Well done to everyone!
Celebrating Achievement at the AGM and 2025 End-of-Year Awards
The IQHA Annual General Meeting and End-of-Year Awards took place on March 28th, 2026, at Drumcoura City Equestrian Centre, bringing members together for a social evening and the much anticipated End of Year awards!
The meeting was very well attended, demonstrating the strong commitment of members to the continued development of the association.
During the AGM, heartfelt thanks were extended to Ella Thomas, who stepped down from her role as Director. Her dedication and valued contribution to the IQHA and the breeders committee over many years are sincerely appreciated.
We were pleased to welcome Susanne Hehle as a newly elected Director and Treasurer, while all other Board members were successfully re-elected, ensuring continuity and stability as the association moves forward into the 2026 season.
A particularly meaningful moment during the evening was the recognition of two individuals who have played significant roles in the development of the IQHA. Founder John Cully and former Chairman Kevin Croke were honoured with commemorative plaques in recognition of their outstanding contributions, although neither was able to attend on the evening.
Left to Right: Niall Bradley - Novice Horse Reserve Champion; Fiadh McLoughlin -Small Fry Reserve Champion, with her mother Susanne Hehle. Jane Hedge - Open Champion all receiving their awards from IQHA Chairman Ron Weisz
2025 End-of-Year Award Recipients
The awards ceremony celebrated the achievements and dedication of riders and horses throughout the 2025 season. Congratulations to all recipients:
🏆 Small Fry Division 🏆 Novice Youth Division
Champion - Mia Gilraine Champion - Amber Connolly
Reserve Champion - Fiadh McLoughlin Reserve Champion - Victoria Brys
🏆 Youth Division 🏆 Novice Amateur Division
Champion - Charlotte Doyle Joint Champions
Reserve Champion - Mia Green Eimear Daly
Esther van der Veen
🏆 Open Division 🏆 Newcomer Youth Awards
Champion - Jane Hedge Summer Gilraine
Reserve Champion - Charles Hanley Kathleen Boylan
AQHA High Point Winners
Youth Division - Mia Green
Open Division - Marleen Rutten
🏆 Novice Horse Division
Joint Champions
BETTY BOONZMAL - Owner Jane Hedge
Money Glen Black Bob - Owner Alessia Stocca
Reserve Champion
SHES SO MAGNETIZING - Owner Niall Bradley
This celebration highlighted the dedication, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm that continues to strengthen the IQHA and WRI community.
Fundraising Success at The IQHA Equestrian Car Boot Sale
March also saw members come together for an equestrian car boot sale held at Drumcoura Equestrian Centre.
The event provided a fantastic opportunity for members to sell unused equipment, connect with fellow riders, and support the association.
Funds raised from the event will go directly towards youth outreach initiatives, supporting the introduction of Western riding to new audiences.
A sincere thank you goes to all who donated items to the IQHA fundraising table. We are also very grateful to the vendors who hosted stalls and to everyone who came along to support the sale.
Outreach Clinic Success at Bullhorn Ranch.
One of the early highlights of the season was the successful IQHA Outreach Clinic held on Easter Monday at Bullhorn Ranch, Co. Kildare.
Pictured above: Round pen facility at Bullhorn Ranch, Co. Kildare.
With over 30 attendees joining us, the clinic provided an engaging and educational experience for riders and enthusiasts of all levels.
Designed to introduce Western riding to newcomers and provide valuable insight for experienced riders, the day proved both informative and enjoyable.
A sincere thank you goes to Stephen Cox of Bullhorn Ranch for his outstanding hospitality and support, which made the event possible.
Pictured above: Educational talks with Q & A session for all participants with Marleen Rutten and Kristin Kilfeather.
A standout feature of the day was the roping demonstration, which generated great interest among participants. Attendees had the opportunity to observe practical skills in action, ask questions, and try roping themselves a memorable and enjoyable learning experience.
We would like to thank all participants who contributed to such a welcoming and enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the day.
A Fantastic Weekend at the IQHA Spring Show 2026
The IQHA Spring Show with AQHA classes was held from April 17th to 19th, and marked a spectacular start to the competition season at Drumcoura City Equestrian Centre, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.
The event included a Friday clinic followed by two full days of competition.
The facilities at Drumcoura City Equestrian Centre owned by IQHA Chairman Mr. Ron Weisz, once again provided an outstanding venue, offering excellent arenas, stabling, and amenities that supported competitors, horses, and spectators throughout the weekend.
We were delighted to welcome international judge and clinician Pierre Ouellet, who officiated throughout the weekend and delivered the Friday clinic.
Pierre's professionalism and expertise were greatly appreciated by competitors and organisers alike.
IQHA Spring Show Highlights 2026
Pictured above: Winners of the Open Reining division - Lia Lohmann of Liberty Ranch, Co. Wicklow with her gelding, MYBODYISMYREVOLOUTION
Kindly sponsored by Mr. Niall Bradley of Bog River Ranch.
Pictured below:
Left: Ethan Darling with SOUTHEARN TEE
Right: Aoibhe Long with BULLHORNSRISKYHANCOCK
Above centre: Youth member, Tameragh Grattan with her stunning cob, Sanu Libertys Strawberry Rose. Winners of the WRI Youth In-Hand trail. Kindly sponsored by Shazzara.
Presentations by IQHA director Susanne Hehle and IQHA Chairman Ron Weisz.
Some of our amazing youth exhibitors!
IQHA Spring Show Leading Novice Horse
Django Command – Ridden by Ella Thomas - Owned by Ron Weisz.
Mileaway Lady - Owned by Charles Hanley
Ranch Horse Challenge
Pictured left:
Winner of the novice amateur division, Eimear Daly from Bullhorn Ranch
Joint second place: Kevin Callaghan
Esther van der Veen - pictured left with ROYAL TEE REINER
Thank you to our Sponsors
The IQHA would like to extend sincere thanks to our generous sponsors whose support helped make the IQHA Spring Show 2026 a success:
Drumcoura City Equestrian Centre
Claremorris Equestrian Centre
Shazarra
Bog River Ranch
Bullhorn Ranch
Your support plays a vital role in ensuring the continued success and growth of IQHA events.
Events like the Spring Show rely on the dedication of many individuals.
A special thank you goes to Steffi Schulz, Show Secretary, for her outstanding organisation and commitment throughout the event.
We extend our sincere thanks to Pierre Ouellet for delivering an outstanding clinic on Friday, which was both informative and engaging for riders of all levels. We also sincerely appreciate his expert judging throughout the weekend, where his fairness, professionalism, and depth of knowledge were highly valued by competitors and contributed greatly to the success of the event.
We would also like to thank the Show Management Team, volunteers, helpers, and members whose hard work ensured the smooth running of the weekend.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Cúl Chistin, who provided excellent on-site catering across the weekend. Their delicious food and friendly service were greatly enjoyed by competitors and spectators alike.
A further thank you goes to the IQHA official photographer Morris Haggerty, whose work captured so many memorable moments throughout the event.
📸 Photographs from the weekend will be available soon
Looking Ahead….
With the IQHA Spring Show successfully completed, the 2026 season is now fully underway.
The enthusiasm, participation, and positive atmosphere seen throughout these early months demonstrate the continued growth of Western Riding in Ireland.
We look forward to welcoming members and supporters to upcoming events and clinics throughout the year, including the following, exciting announcement:
AQHA Roadshow comes to Ireland!
The Irish Quarter Horse Association is delighted to announce that an AQHA Educational Outreach Tour is coming to Ireland from May 29th to June 7th 2026!
Whether you want to learn more about western riding, AQHA programs, or connect with international experts, there’s something for everyone!
With events planned in multiple locations, including seminars, presentations, and demonstrations with AQHA professionals, this is a great opportunity to learn, grow, and be part of the American Quarter Horse community here in Ireland.
*Registration is open until May 15th at 9pm*
We encourage our members and followers to take advantage of this exciting opportunity!
Register here: https://www.aqha.com/.../aqha-educational-outreach-coming...
Upcoming Shows:
IQHA Summer Show — July 17th to 19th 2026
IQHA National Show — September 25th to 27th 2026
Further details on all events can be found on the IQHA website.
We look forward to seeing you at the next event!
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