WINSTON Churchill said: “There’s nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” The Bulldog had obviously never been to Garrettsown in sideways rain.

He was no liberal so maybe Winston felt punishment was good for the soul, like the way a bit of penance will sort out our ‘aul sins. Such thoughts are inevitable when a man’s inside is becoming just wet as his outside over the course of a rainy morning on horseback. Life choices were being questioned.

That particular life choice was taken back in the autumn; ride in the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity race.

It wasn’t too much of a reach. There was some experience banked, although there was a gap between drinks. Things will hardly have changed that much in 15 years. Also, at 15 it was trekking through the woods, more like 17 years since actually working a racehorse.

Anyway, at this point the decision was only made in my head; also no racehorse had as yet actually been sat on.

“Will I bring my hat and stick for Monday morning at the beach?”

“Great stuff you’re more than welcome to come sit on one”

This was the actual text exchange with trainer Damian English before I rode his horse Dance Alone up Mornington Beach in north Co Dublin.

My first sit on a horse of any description in a decade and a half, a detail that wasn’t explored beforehand, as the point of the visit was to make a video for the winter series at Dundalk.

“He knows what to do …don’t worry” – at least that makes one of us, I thought.

So the four of us gently cantered down to the tree, nature’s six-furlong pole on the beach.

PRETTY QUICK

“He’ll get up to top speed pretty quick, we’ll follow you.” Again Damian wasn’t bullshitting me, as Dance Alone whipped into top gear in a stride and a half. I didn’t look back. It was magic.

Galloping up the beach in the morning sun, as the finishing post (life buoy) came into view, Geological decided he’s the boss and came upsides Dance and me for the last half-furlong. We pulled up, walked in the sea, let the horses roll in the sand and I couldn’t decide if I was delighted or disappointed for not doing this sooner. I was back the following week.

POSITIVITY

James Nolan is a butcher; if he was your football coach you would go through walls for him such is his infectious positivity.

The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund is James’ Charity. He initiated the PKRF Charity Race. All of the cash generated by the PKRF Charity Race is invested in projects that improve the quality of life for patients on dialysis, establish ways to maximise the life span of the transplanted kidney and identify projects that examine the causes of renal failure.

The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund’s cause is one close to James Nolan’s heart or should that be kidney, although it wasn’t originally his kidney.

James’s sister Catherine donated her kidney to him 1987 and thus gave him “the gift of life”. James himself rode in the race 13 times and won it in 2002.

The Charity has raised over €1.5 million to date, an incredible achievement given it’s all one man’s work. A feat he would never admit.

James does want one thing from you though, and that is to have a conversation about organ donation. So the race this year will carry the title “Have the Conversation, say yes to organ donation”.

One conversation I was yet to have was verbalising my charity race ambitions, there was still an out. Many a new year’s resolution evaporates through sobriety. There was a chance this was just a pipe dream, that insufficient effort would ensure it was never realised.

A telephone call with James and this was not going to remain a pipe dream. The man is a charismatic positive force of nature. Running a charity for the best part of 30 years, alongside your own successful business would wear some people down. Not James. He seems to thrive on it.

Anyway I was in, totally in, because there is no way anyone could live with themselves if they let this man down. I’m not even that sure that James would be upset, possibly a little disappointed (much worse) but it wouldn’t get him down.

CONDITIONING

Weight luckily wasn’t going to be an issue for me but strength and conditioning might be. Christmas had come and gone, as had any previously banked fitness. More texts exchanged, this time with trainer Sarah Lynam who was advertising for riders.

I inquired as to her level of desperation, apparently high. Good news for me, if not so much for her. She promised enough work to get me fit.

That was early January and I’m yet to be ejected, although there is a stable staff shortage. Some progress has been made; a lesson with Warren O’Connor definitely helped. I am very glad Warren wasn’t filming when I got my permit to take part from RACE, a first sit on an equiciser in nigh on two decades is not for public consumption.

The style has been tidied up a little since, or to quote Eddie Lynam, “got rid of that aul hump on your back”. I doubt I will be mistaken for James Doyle anytime soon.

This Monday morning I was back in Eddie Lynam’s stunning Garrettsttown House Stables just outside Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. The weather was far from stunning, wind, rain and cold with a string of fresh flat horses. I couldn’t have been happier, Winston was right, at least on this.

After the PKRF Charity race, regardless of the result, I will be back here, back in the saddle. It’s good for the soul. Little moments in tune with a horse and nobody else, it’s highly recommended.

To donate, find ‘Thom’s Punchestown Charity race for PKRF’ on gofundme.com