TRISH Carey, secretary of Eventing Ireland’s amateur committee, here explains how the organisation’s Pathways Training Weekends evolved and we learn how enjoyable and educational they have proven to be.

“The idea of the training camps was born when I started at my first event in 2017. I arrived knowing no one, hadn’t a clue if I would be completely out of my league, didn’t know what to expect or how anything worked on the day – I found it all very overwhelming.

“I had booked in to stay overnight (as I was sure I’d probably fall off and at least I wouldn’t have to drive home immediately!) and, by pure luck, I bumped into Eve Smith who was also staying there, with her family, and we got chatting.

ENJOYABLE AFFAIR

“This changed the whole experience into a much more enjoyable affair. They gave me advice, answered all the queries I had, reassured me I’d be fine and then were delighted when I arrived home in one piece. A friendship was born that day – as was the idea for Pathways Training.

“Eventing can be a long day but it’s made much easier by having support and good company. Training was a way for new and existing members to connect and meet up and a way to create a sense of community and fun.

“A lot of the time riders, especially those who have just started eventing, only see the names on the scoreboards.

“Through watching each other train, people learn to put faces to names and see the common struggles we all have with training and our horses.

“This filters through to the day of events when people end up chatting and doing course walks together. It’s lovely to see new friendships being formed.

“The first of the Pathways Training weekends was run at Annaharvey in the spring. The farmhouse is homely and relaxed and there is nothing better than everyone sitting around eating together, laughing together and chatting over wine.

“A huge advantage of Annaharvey as a venue is that you can school over the actual fences used in EI courses. Mentally it is a huge confidence giver to know you are getting practical training over jumps you will encounter on course. A lot of people have a mental block about moving up a level and it’s a brilliant boost to have someone like Sam (Deverell) provide advice and tuition to push you out of your comfort zone slightly and give you the confidence to move up knowing you have the skills and tools you need.

“The first group were great fun. It was brilliant to see how people on it like John Gavin have gone on to have super years. It was great to see Suzanne Garrett competing [at literally every discipline] all year and being so brilliant as well.

“A lot of us from the original camp met up at Tatts for the course walk and it’s great knowing the faces now to cheer them on as they go around.

“The second weekend, at Annaharvey in September, ran as well as the first. Proving that the horse world is actually tiny, Michelle Wright and I ended up bonding over the coloured rescue cobs we were riding.

“I recognised Michelle’s beautiful cob Panda Bear as one that my friend Andrea O’Brien, the dressage rider, had rescued in an awful state from Ballinasloe horse fair years beforehand.

“Andrea was over the moon to learn that Michelle had been competing the cob very successfully in riding club and Dressage Ireland competitions and, from the way, he jumps, he looks a born eventer.

“The Amateur Committee are always looking for new venues and trainers to run clinics. We ran training in The Field Equestrian Centre with the brilliant Lindsay Graham as well, and that looks like another possible weekend venue when their self-catering cottages come online.”