AS kids, we started off all running around on ponies at home. I then went away from horses for about 20 years; only getting back into it in my late 30s. Since then, I was the National Amateur Showjumping Champion 2018, competed in the Corinthian Challenge 2023 and recently rode a winner under rules at Kilbeggan. My wife always says that I don’t have a bucket list, just a list of things I’ve done. While my amateur licence also permits me to ride over jumps, I haven’t had this opportunity just yet.After my Leaving Certificate I got a place in college in Oxford to do Equine Science. I ended up deferring it for a year, then two. Life just ended up taking me in a different direction, I suppose.

I worked within the transport sector for a number of years in the UK, Australia and finally home. Three years later, my wife Aoife and I decided to set up our own business, Tranziberia. A food distribution company, we mainly import/export to Spain and Portugal.

When our daughter Saoirse was three years old, we bought her a pony. As we travelled around to country shows watching her compete in the lead rein classes, I said to the lads ‘this showjumping looks like a bit of fun.’

They said I should do the amateurs. After buying a great horse called Rathurtin from a friend of ours, I started off show jumping. In 2018, when Saoirse won the first ridden class at the RDS, I was also jumping in the Amateur class in Simmonscourt.

Over the next 10 years or so, our careers went hand and hand. Saoirse, who is now 15, has been extremely dedicated to the ponies from day one. This year, she won the 148 six/seven-year-old pony RDS qualifier in The Meadows Equestrian Centre and, the 148 A pony qualifier few weeks later in Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre.

Overqualified

Having qualified for Dublin on three occasions I felt that I had given the show jumping a good rattle and had progressed as much as I could. Max Foley rides a nice horse I bought from Marily Power of the well-known Suma Stud and has been selected to represent Ireland this week in the Young Rider’s section of the FEI European Championships in Riesenbeck International in Germany.

At the 2022 Leopardstown Christmas Festival, a good friend of ours, Gemma Mallon, mentioned the Corinthian Challenge. She thought that given my experience with horses and, vast business contacts, it would be a great fit. We are neighbours of the Mullins family at home, so I contacted George [Mullins] and told him what I was thinking.

He said: “Come down and ride a few lots with Emmet and see how you get on.” I started riding out for Emmet ahead of the 2023 Corinthian Challenge. That August, I was runner-up on Lord Vader in the first race of the series at Naas. The following month, I rode Aurora Princess to finish fourth at the Curragh. In the last leg, I won on Slate Lane at Leopardstown in October. I was so grateful to Emmett and his owners for their support.

After the Corinthian Challenge finished, I was still keen to stay riding out, I loved it in Emmet’s. The staff are very dedicated and, the horses are so well looked after. Emmet has a great system in place and is wise beyond his years.

I have a lot of respect for him. I ride two to three lots, five days a week. The early starts suit me, as it doesn’t affect my working day. I’ve never been fitter in my life and, I’m really enjoying it.

The next step

Last year, I decided to take the next step by getting an amateur licence. I bought a half-share in a horse named Jerry From Kerry. After John Gleeson rode him to win his bumper in Ballinrobe, I had some good results, with the highlight being second at Down Royal in a winners’ bumper.

We paid just over £9,000 for both Minella Sergeant and Minella Emperor in an online sale. Although the former didn’t set the world alight for us, he has shown a bit over fences recently for his new connections. I rode Minella Emperor to finish fourth in quite a good bumper at Cork, before he won for me at Kilbeggan.

Going into that race, we were hopeful of being in the top three. We knew that Gordon’s horse (Stede Bonnet) was very good; something he has proven since.

Emmet gave me specific instructions regarding what line to take and, where on the track I should be. The plan was to make it but to keep wide for the better ground.

I got left behind a little before the turn in but, mindful that I had gone too early on Jerry From Kerry a couple of times, I did as instructed and bided my time. Once I asked the horse to go, he gave me everything to win.

To be honest, it was as much a sense of relief as anything else after the race. We were thrilled with the result. I have the height of respect for all the jockeys in the weigh room. As a 48-year-old, just to be able to go out there and compete with them is a great experience.

Michael was in conversation with John O’Riordan.