Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Major congratulations are in order for Galway, Ireland’s Justin Burke, who has just earned the prestigious title of WBFSH Eventing Breeder of the Year 2026, for breeding HSH Blake, the Irish Sport Horse by Tolan R out of Doughiska Lass (Kannan) partnered with U.S. Olympian and World Championships rider Caroline Pamukcu. HSH Blake, a freak of nature in his own right, has won or finished competitively at nearly every event he’s gone to, across levels. His accolades with Caroline include individual gold and team silver at the Pan American Games in 2023 and two five-star podium finishes – including one at Burghley as well as Kentucky this year.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor. Photo by Chelsea Spear Photography.
And Blake isn’t the only horse in Caroline’s string that was bred by Justin Burke! HSH Connor, who finished on the podium at Le Lion d’Angers as a 6-year-old and has gone on to win events like the Maryland 3 Star and Bouckaert International’s CCI4*-S, is another horse out of Justin’s program.
In all, the Irish studbook was the top-ranked Eventing Studbook for 2026, determined by points accumulated throughout the season.
“On behalf of The Irish Horse Board, I want to congratulate Justin Burke on the fantastic achievement of being named Eventing breeder of the year for 2026 and to all of the Irish breeders who contributed to helping regain Ireland’s title as World No.1 for breeding Eventing horses,” Irish Horse Board director General Alison Corbally said in a press release. Ireland also featured on the WBFSH Breeder rankings in show jumping for the efforts of the Connolly family, breeders of CSF James Kann Cruz who finished the year as the runner-up in the World Show Jumping breeder rankings with Shane Sweetnam.
Here’s a look at the Irish horses that contributed to this achievement – you’ll see a few familiar U.S.-based names!
You can view the full announcement from WBFSH here.
Major International Events
Les 5 Étoiles de Pau CCI5* (France): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Pau TV Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Play Eventing Manager – Use code PCTD to join the EN league!]
U.S. Events This Weekend
Waredaca Classic Three-Day Event & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer: Horse Trials] [Volunteer: Classic Three-Day]
YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores]
Bouckaert Equestrian International (GA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]
Windermere Run H.T. (MO): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Volunteer]
Hitching Post Farm H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Volunteer]
Other News & Recommended Reading
Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.
To wrap up the season after the excitement of last weekend’s East Coast Championships, the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships kick off today at Twin Rivers (Paso Robles, CA). Nineteen of the West’s most promising young horses (13 five-year-olds and six four-year-olds) head to Twin this weekend, where they will be assessed by judges Marilyn Payne (USA) and Chris Ryan (IRL), who also judged at Fair Hill last weekend.
Amber Birtcil leads the field with five rides, including Viking Viko Van De Dreef, whose 92.10% qualifying score is the second-highest for a 5-year-old nationally this year. Only Katy Robinson and Nite Cap (92.15%) scored higher. James Alliston brings three horses, among them 4-year-old stallion Wizmo Warrior OMR (91.65%). Reigning 4-year-old champion Earned Effort returns with Ashley Loucks in the irons.
The program’s alumni have had a strong fall. Orpheus, fifth here as a 4-year-old in 2023, just won the 7-Year-Old Developing Horse National Championship at Morven Park. LS Crown Royal, third as a 5-year-old that same year, was the top American at the Boekelo Nations Cup earlier this month.
[Learn more Fast Facts about the field]
[View other USEA Young Event Horse coverage]
[Keep up with live scores]
- Voting is open for the 2026 FEI Awards: Eventers are represented in two categories, including Longines FEI Rising Star, for which Germany’s Teresa Leowald was nominated, this year’s Junior European Champion. Get your vote in here.
- The carriage era draws the curtain: The New York City Council has voted to ban horse-drawn carriages within two years. One thing that remains relatively unclear at this stage is what will become of the 180 or so carriage horses and 200+ employed in the industry currently. The bill also is likely to face opposition before it’s able to be fully enacted. Read more here.
- Why ‘just be confident’ doesn’t always work: Sometimes, it takes more than “positive thinking” to make a difference when fear or nerves show up. So what does move the needle? Dive in here.
Sponsor Corner: Stable View
Are you qualified for the Championship round of Stable View’s Eventing Academy? Find out in the post above or here! Either way, entries are now open for this penultimate Eventing Academy of the year and the final of the 2026 points season; December’s EA will be counted for 2027 leaderboards and points. So, this is your chance to get in on $20,000 worth of prizes in one of the best unrecognized series around. If you’re new to Eventing Academy, you can learn more about it here.
Get that entry in! They close on November 13 for the November 20-22 schooling and horse trials.
[Learn more about Stable View Eventing Academy]
Coaching Corner
- Bernie Traurig on creating impulsion through responsiveness to aids
- Why fitness training is a must for eventers
- Add structure and intent to your hacks with this simple transition exercise
Go Eventing
Learn more about the science behind ground management at an event with Lucinda Green and Mark Lucy:
