Two of Ireland's top international showjumpers have been urged to put differences aside to line out for the Irish team in next Friday's German nations cup.
Avril Doyle, President of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI), called upon showjumpers - Harry Marshall and Jessica Kuerten - to temporarily put aside the ongoing row to join the team for the major Samsung Super League competition in Aachen.
Harry Marshall and Jessica Kuerten have refused to participate in a team including Cian O'Connor who was stripped of last year's Olympic gold medal. They are also unhappy over issues pertaining to the selection process over Dublin's Nations Cup competition.
Marshall has described the atmosphere within the showjumping squad as appalling since O'Connor returned to the team, having served a three-month ban for inadvertently giving his horse a banned substance.
The showjumper has said he will not line out for Ireland in Aachen despite O'Connor's withdrawal from the team due to his horse's injuries.
The Irish team are in second-to-last place in the Samsung Super League after finishing fifth in the Aga Khan trophy in Dublin, and face relegation from showjumping 's top division.
However, Marshall claimed he would still not ride as action was not taken over difficulties in the selection process that arose during the Nations Cup event in Dublin.
"I don't want Ireland to drop out of the Super League and I believe that the team is good enough to stay in the Super League if they pull together but I think there is hidden agendas and personalities really getting in the way," he said.
PA