THE coming and going of young horses defines the daily rhythm of Stellor Sporthorses. While my yard operates within the parameters of an established routine, the essence of my work, that is the producing of young eventing stars, is immensely varied.

No two horses are ever the same! With this in mind, I recently welcomed back two of my favourites from the 2014 season. Both horses possess the potential for great success within eventing, yet two more different horses one could not imagine.

Forthmoy Tipoki is a seven-year-old mare by Watermill Swatch. Owned by Marie Deasy, ‘Poki’ has proven very strong in the jumping phase, improving exponentially with the progression of last year’s season. This year will see a focus on improving her performance in the dressage arena.

Woodcourt Garrison, a six-year-old by Garrison Royal, and owned by Breda Kennedy, started in my yard during spring 2014. Then a five-year-old with no previous experience, he was a late starter by Stellor standards (most of my young horses are out and about as four-year-olds in the Young Horse classes, thus are ready to take on the ‘grown-up’ classes the following year).

But a thorough year of education has shown this horse to be a real star in the making. He is another horse in possession of a rather impressive ‘leap’, and I hope is on the cusp of taking on the eventing world; or at least Ireland!

At the moment, both horses are a rather woolly version of their competition selves, and are in dire need of some ‘Operation Transformation’ in the cosmetics department. “Hi, ho, hi, ho, to the clipping bay we go!”

With the 2015 season much less a dot on the horizon, and much more an ocean-liner steaming into port, thoughts also turn to my development as a rider and producer of horses. My desire to learn is infinite, and I remain steadfastly open-minded about new ways of doing old things. Last week saw me a willing student for some rigorous dressage training with Ian Woodhead. Next on the ‘to do’ list is some hard work over show jumps, with Ian Fearon as taskmaster extraordinaire.

I always look forward to applying my new techniques on the horses, yet also enjoy sharing them with my two-legged scholars. My most recent coaching clinic, which took place over the first weekend of January, ordained 16 horse and rider combinations as the beneficiaries of my learning and experience. Yet again, I was struck by the variety of horses and ponies taking on eventing, all doing so very ably. It is wonderful to see the sport held in such high esteem and being tackled with such passion and tenacity. The generous sponsorship of Tredstep and Horse First ensured that participants in my winter clinics each walked away with a small stocking filler.

Team Ireland’s 2015 preparations are well-underway, with us riders the grateful recipients of true miracle-working on our sometimes aching bodies! An immensely innovative collaboration between Horse Sport Ireland and The Irish Institute of Sport has provided Team Ireland’s eventers with some long overdue ‘bodywork’ in the form of physiotherapy and strength and conditioning. While touching my toes might still be a long way off, my legs and torso are finally on speaking terms again!

DAVID FOSTER BALL

My new found agility will be useful in ‘tripping the light fantastic’ on February 14th, at the David Foster Injured Riders Fund Ball. Absolutely an occasion to let our hair down from the hairnets prior to the busy competition season, this evening is also representative of much more.

It is a chance for eventers to contribute in a very real way to a sport that gives us so much. The Injured Riders Fund, although established in tragic circumstances, works tirelessly on behalf of the eventing community. So, dust off those dresses, polish up those shoes, and take this opportunity to support an innately worthy cause, whilst ensuring Valentines is truly a night to remember (should you need any more persuasion, my husband Niki promises a display of grace and finesse on the dance-floor; a sight all by itself deserving of a ticket)!

January is moving along nicely, with the promise of better days ahead. Although still a little early to say that spring is in the air, the lengthening of the day goes a long way towards the buoying up of spirits.

My yard is almost free of that sense of early afternoon urgency, when the list of horses left to ride is seemingly endless, yet the minutes of remaining sunlight are resolutely finite. While not quite at the point of partaking in a casual, afternoon cup of tea, we are taking the chance to look skywards again!

Sarah Ennis is an international event rider based in Co Meath