BOTH Ciaran Moran and Alyson Keane of MK Sport Horses have been involved with horses from a young age. Ciaran started out show jumping ponies and then gradually made the move into racing with success on the point-to-point field and under rules until injury curtailed.

Moran always had a few horses of his own which he would produce as eventers, show jumpers or hunters, depending on type and ability.

Alyson was deeply involved in the sport of eventing, competing in under-age classes, representing Ireland at the pony eventing championships in 2004, finishing fifth individually. Alyson’s yard at home was constantly filled with young horses as her dad, John Keane, produced and sold young eventers worldwide. John was the first person to win the future event horse league (FEHL) in Dublin in 2006, with All The Aces.

MK SPORT HORSES

A love of producing young horses was something Ciaran and Alyson shared and in 2013 they decided to combine their knowledge and expertise to set up their own business, MK Sport Horses.

Their business mainly involves training and producing young horses for all equestrian disciplines. They keep a number of horses themselves with the intention of selling but they also produce and compete horses for clients.

During the summer months Ciaran and Alyson would be busy competing on the eventing and showing circuit. When asked what they look for in a potential event horse they replied: “Everyone has their own preferred type and breed for eventing. For us there is no rule, as you see all shapes and sizes out competing.

“We look for a nice athletic individual with a good presence and pleasing conformation. We like a smooth, free-moving horse, usually a good walk signifies a good canter. When it comes to jumping ability, we look for something careful and scopey.

“The horse’s attitude is a huge factor for us, they have to want to work with you and we think that applies across all equestrian sports. They have to want to do it too.”

HUNTING

When asked about the process of breaking and training young horses Ciaran and Alyson replied: “We try to teach them the basics in a simple, uncomplicated way, examples of this would be plenty of hacking and road work, basic flatwork, an introduction to jumping and then they go to shows. If at all possible we will hunt them. A few quiet days’ hunting is great for building a young horse’s experience. Again this all varies depending on the horse.”

Before taking a young horse out hunting Ciaran and Aly would school the horse on a lunge rope to let them find their jumping technique and to gain confidence while figuring it out for themselves. Then they are ridden over banks and drains and fly fences, normally in a small group of horses, to teach them to go in front and to wait their turn.

“We have no problem hunting a young horse for the full day within reason, we usually take it steady at the back of the field,” Ciaran and Aly continued. “Young horses can sometimes be unpredictable so we are very vigilant with other horses around them and in amongst the hounds.

“But we have to say that hunting really helps make a horse brave and forward thinking whilst also developing that ever-important “fifth leg”. Hunting is also a great way to sweeten up older or quirky horses.”