THE FEI/World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses’ world championships for young event horses takes place each autumn at the L’Isle Briand Estate on the outskirts of Le Lion d’Angers in Western France.

Ireland has fielded teams for the championships each year with a large number of Irish Sport Horses also being partnered by riders representing other national federations.

In a normal season on the home eventing circuit, riders would be aiming their six and seven-year-old winners at the championships and would also be keen to discover when dedicated training would commence.

That training is organised by Janet Murray, international administrator for Eventing Ireland and a member of Horse Sport Ireland’s selection committee for the Le Lion championships to which she has travelled as chef d’equipe since 2007 when taking over from Lars Christensson.

Under her maiden name Mehigan, Janet grew up in Malahide where her late mother Deirdre encouraged her, and her sister Fiona, to attend the local riding school which was then attached to the Grand Hotel. There she was taught to ride by Joan McAuley (now Kearns).

Shows

“I loved the amazing shows held at the Grand and spent every minute helping while dreaming of being a show jumper. Tommy Brennan was based there at the time and later I was lucky enough to have lessons with the genius Anthony Paalman who spent hours explaining the techniques of jumping to a fascinated child!

“I then moved on to the legendary Iris Kellett in Mespil Road where I was further inspired by Paul Darragh and Eddie Macken. When lucky enough to get my own ponies, I produced them from scratch to eventually jump in the RDS. It was the same with my first horse, Ambrosia (by Water Serpent), who I rode on the Irish team at the Junior European show jumping championships in Brussels, won the national under 21 title and competed in senior classes.

“After I sold Ambrosia, the next horse I bought sustained an injury so I headed off for a spell in Britain with Peter Robeson whose show jumping horses were full thoroughbreds and all home-bred.

“I started eventing after attending the 1978 World Championships in Kentucky (where John Watson claimed the individual silver medal on Cambridge Blue) and rode up to three-star level (now four-star) with several horses. Among my biggest successes on home soil was winning the Gowran Grange trophy at Punchestown on the thoroughbred Rushfield.

Show jumping

“I was listed for Europeans but injuries and sales resulted in me going back show jumping where I produced several up to Grade A including a couple I bred. There is no feeling like taking your home-bred to his first show and jumping your clears! A great lesson learned early on is that when you compete your own horses you can make every decision regarding their education and rate of progress with the big picture at the forefront. Many riders do not have that luxury,” said Janet.

The first foal Murray bred, a 1980 colt by Marwood, was sold as a show jumper to Spain while among the best have been the eventers Millridge Cara and MJM Bobby Dazzler and the top working hunter, MJM Laszlo. Janet, who has a big interest in racing which she shares with husband Martin, is also delighted to learn when other horses she has bred have found great homes.