TheGrassrootsGazette

27/06/2025

Hope everyone has a cracking time at Killusty Pony Show🐴😊🐎.

"On Saturday the 5th of July, the valley of Slievenamon will once again echo with the familiar buzz of hooves, chatter, and local pride as the 63rd Killusty Pony Show gets underway. Held just ten minutes outside Clonmel (E91 YX70), this iconic fixture on the calendar has been proudly running since its inception—remaining one of the last shows in Ireland completely dedicated to horses and ponies."

As told by the organisers of the 63rd Killusty Pony Show.

11/06/2025

It’s a new chapter.

We’ve just launched the world’s first AI-powered journalist for grassroots equestrians. It listens. It shapes. It doesn’t rewrite. It holds your voice, your tone, your energy... just long enough for your story to be heard.

No writing skills needed. No experience. The Internet, access to ChatGPT and the courage or the want to talk. Just speak into audio mode and if you want, it’ll shape your words into a story you can keep, share, or submit.

This changes everything for grassroots equestrian media.
Built in Ireland. Built for riders everywhere.

Any story. Anywhere. By anyone.

👉 The Grassroots Journo is live now.

https://thegrassrootsgazette.ie/this-is-the-future-of-equestrian-media-and-we-built-it/

30/05/2025

A brilliant weekend of Amateur jumping ahead at Mullingar Equestrian CSI2* International! ☘️

🔹 Sunday 1st June hosts the Amateur Qualifier as part of the Orchard Equestrian/NAPS League
🔹 All Sunday riders qualify for the Mullingar Amateur Championship on Monday 2nd June
🔹 Prizes include a 2-night stay at Bloomfield House Hotel (for use during the National Amateur Championships in September)
🔹 Plus Pavilion Restaurant, entry & diesel vouchers—all geared towards supporting riders at the National Amateur Championships in September 🐎☘️

We have a brilliant weekend of Amateur jumping coming up at our CSI 2* International. ☘️

🔹The Qualifying class takes place on Sunday the 1st June, and is also part of the Orchard Equestrian/ NAPS Amateur League

🔹Everyone who competes Sunday will be eligible for the Mullingar Amateur Championship on Monday 2nd June, where we have some incredible prizes on offer, including a 2 nights stay in the beautiful Bloomfield House Hotel including an evening meal, which can be used over the weekend of the 20th and 21st September during the SJI National Amateur Championships at Mullingar 🇮🇪

We also have Pavilion Restaurant Vouchers, Entry vouchers and Diesal vouchers on offer to cover all your needs for the National Amateur Championships in September ☘️

Looking forward to a wonderful weekend of Amatuer jumping at our International Show and hope to see you all there!

30/05/2025

🏆 Huge congratulations to the pony team on their Nations Cup victory in Zuidwolde 👏👏!
Charlie Flynn & HK Zena,
Cian McMunn & Exodus Angies Rose,
Ronan Gilvarry & Glor Tire Cruise,
Ruben Foley & Wineport QJunior 🇮🇪☘️

🏆Congratulations pony team on winning the nations cup in Zuidwolde, Charlie Flynn & HK Zena, Cian Mcmunn & Exodus Angies Rose, Ronan Gilvarry & Glor Tire Cruise and
Ruben Foley & Wineport QJunior 🇮🇪 ☘️🐎

30/05/2025

There’s a quiet hierarchy in Irish showing. And it’s not based on movement, turnout, or confirmation 🤔.

It’s based on surnames. On yards. On who’s holding the rope. On who’s liked — and who’s not 😡.

That’s not judging. That’s politics.
And that’s the problem.

For too long, people have played the game. Showed up. Stayed silent. Told themselves, “That’s just the way it is.”

But this year, the feedback came fast — and it came from everywhere. The people in the sport are starting to say what they’ve always thought: The results don’t always reflect the ring.

And when that happens, it’s not just reputations that get damaged — it’s the future of the sport itself.

Nobody’s asking for perfection.
They’re asking for fairness. For transparency. For a system that doesn’t reward proximity over performance.

Read the article. Then ask yourself — is the ribbon still about the horse?

📰 Full piece live now on thegrassrootsgazette.ie 🫡

19/05/2025

Some of our favourites pics from at 🏍️🏍️. These two young rock stars supporting an important cause. It really was a day for everyone… family, friends and bikers alike 💚🤍.

12/05/2025

She came from Tipperary… and changed the face of racing forever 👸🏻🏇🏻🏆.

Rachael Blackmore has called time on a career that didn’t just break records—it broke boundaries, shattered perceptions, and lit a path for others to follow 🐎✨. What an absolute hero 🦸🏻‍♀️.

From Shark Hanlon to Henry de Bromhead… from point-to-points to Gold Cups… she’s done it all, and done it with class, calm, and serious talent 👏

All those records with all the pressure, she has transformed so much by being herself. Set a standard and delivered so many big days and wins for owners and trainers.

A huge supporter of our .campaign from day one—she’s always seen the value in backing people, not just horses 💬💛. Zoe chatted with her and Harley sure, hers was one of the first videos in.

Her legacy isn’t just in the wins… it’s really is in the belief she’s given to the next generation and of course she, the magical journey that was Honeysuckle.

A duo and partnership that will always be etched in history. The achieved the impossible again and again.

Thank you, Rachael 🙏

11/05/2025

What a performance all weekend long at by 💚🤍🧡.

At 16 years old, Colorado Blue just delivered one of the great Badminton performances—posting a personal best in the dressage, eating up the cross-country course inside the time, and holding his nerve in the Showjumping to secure another podium 🥉.

Austin O’Connor knew it. The crowd knew it. Huge fan favourites across the weekend 👏👏.

This isn’t just Ireland’s top-ranked rider. This is one of the most respected combinations in the sport—seasoned, tested, and as Austin said all weekend… still improving.

Bred in Ireland. Produced in Ireland. Roared home at Badminton. Brilliant alll weekend long 🫡💚.

Third place. A second podium. And one hell of a partnership.

11/05/2025

What a finale. What a podium.

and Lordships Graffalo deliver history at —becoming the first pair ever to regain the title and doing it in style. Incredible allll weekend long, magical performance 🥇🏆.

and Cooley Rosalent pushed it to the wire, just one pole down was the difference on the final day, finishing just behind in second 🥈.

And Ireland’s own ? Back on the Badminton podium. Roars followed every fence, a huge fan favourite across the weekend. He and Colorado Blue finish third—proving once again that this partnership is one of the most admired in the sport as Irelands leading Eventer in the world rankings 🥉.

Badminton 2025 gave us everything.

10/05/2025

Sun’s out. Rails are up.
delivering on a simply beeeautiful day 😎.

We’re ringside for the Grand Prix —
cracking ground, nice crowd,
not a cloud in the sky ☀️☀️🌞

Venue looks class.
Field is stacked with talented combos.
Anddddd the Tempo is building.

No better place to be on a Saturday 🐎📸🤳

08/05/2025

🗓️ 10 Days to Go. One Castle. One Cause.

On Sunday 18th May, hundreds of riders will roll out from Barberstown Castle in suits, silk ties and steel resolve — not just to ride, but to raise awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer.

This is the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.
And Kildare is showing up strong.

We stand with Austin O’Callaghan, Amanda, the team and every single rider putting on the gear for a brother, a father, a friend — or for themselves.

“232 men died by su***de in Ireland last year. That’s nearly 4.5 a week. It’s the leading cause of death in men aged 15 to 29. We need to treat this the way we treat road deaths.” – Austin O’Callaghan

Whether you ride, donate, cheer from the roadside or simply share this post — you’re part of the change.

🛵 Register now
💶 Donate €20+ to enter the prize draw
🏆 Best Dressed. Best Bike. Custom Café Racer up for grabs
🎪 Full weekend of events incl. the Movember Phone Booth & bike showcase

Let’s ride with style. Let’s ride with purpose. Let’s ride for the ones who need us most.

🔗 gentlemansride.com/rides/ireland/kildare

07/05/2025

Any grassroots equestrians want to be part of testing some very cool Artificial Intelligence Tech for Online Media?

This tech will give us the ability to give coverage to so many shows and events we can’t get to.

In theory, anyone can be a journalist with this. It’s does the hard part for you but just to be clear, everything this system writes is based on what you’ve said, what you’ve documented and what you’ve highlighted as important. The future of media is here 😉🫡.

Open to all grassroots equestrians, at all levels but you would need to be above 18 to be part of this. So, if you want to build your profile, document your year and share your story, it’s a cracking chance to be part of something really cool.

You’ll have to join a group zoom call to get a bit of training and guidance on the system but you’ll be good to go after that 😁😁.

Deadline closes Sunday night at 11:59pm 🫡.

Drop us a DM if you’re interested 😎😁.