KEVIN Babington was born and reared in Carrick -On- Suir in Co Tipperary – a county renowned for producing great horse people.

During his school days Babington spent much of his free time with Celine Kennedy and owes a lot of his grounding in horses to Kennedy’s early coaching. In 1987, at age 17, Babington left home and went to work and learn from the legendary, Iris Kellet, in Co Kildare.

Babington has stated that he felt “privileged to follow in the paths of Eddie Macken and the late Paul Darragh who both served their time with Iris.”

There Babington worked alongside Damien Gardner, Niall Talbot, John Brennan and Brian Duff and learned a great deal from these talented riders.

Young, and eager to see the world and armed with a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor’s Certificate from Kellet’s Riding school, Babington moved to Vermont in an attempt to carve out a career across the water. In doing so, he became a household name both at home and abroad and has been one of Ireland’s leading show jumpers for many years.

CARLING KING

Kevin Babington will always be remembered for the wonderful memories he gave us on the talented Irish-bred Carling King. Bred by Dr Geraghty in Galway, Carling King, by Clover Hill out of a Chairlift dam (TB), flew the flag for the Irish horse all over the world.

He went through the Irish show jumping system and was produced successfully through the ranks by Michael Buckley. ‘King’ (as he was affectionately known) won the famous five-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show with Buckley. The class was later renamed the Carling King five-year-old championship in his honour.

“I have to thank Eamonn Hughes for telling me about Carling King. I already had a very good Irish-bred horse from Eamonn called Cruise Missile (by Cruising) so I knew he had a good eye for a horse,” says Babington.

“I got on a plane and went to Ireland. When I sat on him I never felt scope like it, actually I don’t think I knew what scope was until I rode ‘King’! He was light off the floor and careful.

“One aspect of him that many mightn’t know is the he was very sharp and hot and didn’t take a lot of leg. You might have noticed that I rode him around the Olympics with no spurs!”

When asked if he felt he would ever find another horse like Carling King Babington commented: “Never say never. I have some very nice horses at the moment. I’m hoping the Irish-bred Super Chilled might fill his shoes (although they are huge shoes to fill). To look at him he reminds me so much of ‘King’. I love the Irish horses because they are fighters and have great mentality.

“He has progressed up to International level with ease and I’m hoping he will have a bright future.

“I always try and pick an Irish horse because they are fighters and have a great mentality. These are the traits that are really important in the international ring. I have owned and jumped many great Irish horses like Carling King (Clover Hill), Cruise Missile (Cruising) and my newest mount Super Chilled (Gelvin Clover). I think Ireland produces some of the best horsemen in show jumping, eventing and racing.

AMATEUR HORSES

Most of the horses that Babington purchases are for amateur riders.

“They generally require horses that have a good brain, balanced canters, good character and can do their lead changes easily,” he explained.

“For some reason people still think an amateur horse can be more draft type with less blood that will pull you to the fence and just needs to get to the other side. This is not the case over here. The average amateur track here can be up to 1.45m and are very competitive.

“If I go looking for a horse for myself the main thing I focus on is the ‘feel’ I get when I ride him. I then will look at type, balance and conformation. Rideability is important but not as much as it is for the amateur rider. What works for a professional rider may not work for the amateur over here. But each time I try a horse for myself in the back of my mind I’m thinking, if it doesn’t jump the top International level the next market for it will be the amateur one. The point I’m making is that although the professional and amateur market are two different markets I keep both in mind when trying a horse.”