MY horse of a lifetime.” That is the fabulous description owner Breda Kennedy happily attributes to her 12-year-old gelding Horseware Woodcourt Garrison, the mount of Sarah Ennis for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Breda, who has raised the horse from a foal, said: “I am so grateful to Sarah and her entire team. Her husband Nicky and son James, as well as her entire staff which have made all this possible. They made this horse what he is today and deserve all the credit.

“Our house here in Co Laois is named Woodcourt, and he is by Garrison Royal – hence his name. I’ve always had an interest in horses since I was very young. I became involved in the competition side of things when my daughter Lorraine began riding ponies.

“Lorraine was a member of the Clonmel Branch of the Pony Club. She did Games and had a couple of show jumping ponies, she didn’t compete to a very high level, but we had great fun and this was really where my involvement in competitions began. She now works full-time as a clinical psychologist, but still competes at an amateur level and has her own yard in Co Westmeath.

“I have a yard here in Co Laois, between Stradbally and Timahoe, and have 10 boxes. I breed mainly thoroughbreds and then a couple of sport horses from thoroughbred (TB) mares. I have three dams which are my breeding base; I bred Presenting Lily and I bought Supreme Empress and the French-bred mare Le Brave.

“I tend to sell the TB foals and then hold onto a sport horse or two a year to produce. I have a few very nice youngsters at the moment, but we will have to see how they work out. They are all for the future. I have one sport horse yearling which I’m looking forward to watching progress.

“I bought Tyson (Horseware Woodcourt Garrison) as a foal from PJ Kearns. He is by Garrison Royal out of Davitt Star, by Furisto. I had previously bought his older full-brother Major Furisto from PJ.

“He is now 15 years old and has enjoyed great success; initially under Fraser Duffy and then with my daughter Lorraine. Most recently they won the CCI* intro class in Ballindenisk in 2019. They also do some dressage and are having great fun together.

“We broke Tyson as a two-year-old and then put him out to grow before bringing him back in at three and four years of age to do a little bit more. We just kept him going in light work and gave him loads of time.

“When he was five, I felt he was ready to go further. We knew Sarah from being at the events and we decided that we would send him to her and he hasn’t looked back since.

“Sarah understands her horses. She allows them the time to develop at their own pace. She has what it takes, certainly with him anyway – she and the wonderful team she has around her.

“Sarah has always believed in him. She has called him her Olympic horse for years now. I think through her experience at the top level on Horseware Stellor Rebound she was able to recognise what it would take for him to be a top horse, and she felt it on Tyson.

“He has always had his own mind. He is quite strong willed, hence the stable name ‘Tyson’, but I think that his strength is part of the reason he has been so successful.

All credit due to Ennis

“He started out in the lower classes, he did well, maybe not outstanding in the beginning, but he was very determined. He went along steadily I would say, and when he got older he really started to display the talent and ability you can see today.

“All credit to Sarah – she has done all the work. I can’t take any credit for that. Sarah did it all. She knew from quite early on.

“He is a special kind of horse; he has the toughness, the brain and the talent and the will to win, so that combined with ability has brought him to where he is today.

“We have travelled with him to pretty much all his events and have had great fun in the process. There have been good days and bad days, as there always are with horses, but for the most part they have been positive.”

Olympic adventure

Breda continued: “From my point of view, it has been a very enjoyable journey. It is absolutely amazing that he has come this far. We have been at pretty much all his international events, and of course to all his Irish competitions.

“We’ve been to Boekelo and Luhmühlen and we were there when he finished third in Chatsworth in 2019 which was just before Covid, that was a fantastic day.

“I’m so delighted that he has been selected for the Irish Olympic Team. I’m so grateful to Horse Sport Ireland, Sally (Corscadden) and the entire team, vets, coaches, everyone involved has been so helpful and made the whole experience a great one for us.

“We are now looking forward to the next part of it. We will travel to Tokyo, myself and my husband John, my daughter would love to be coming but they will only allow two people to go as owners so, unfortunately Lorraine can’t come with us.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. There can be a lot of setbacks in horses, which everyone knows, this makes up for it all. It’s a once in a lifetime trip.

“I think it would be more nerve racking to be at home watching it than to be there. It’s all happening quite quickly, the horses leave for Germany and will quarantine there and continue training in Aachen.

“It’s only a few weeks until we leave, and I suppose, in other times, we would make more of holiday out of the trip, I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, but this time it will just be directly there and then leave for home straight after it’s over; but that’s the way it has to be so we are happy to make the most of it.

“As an owner, it’s great to know that you have your horse with someone you can totally rely on to do the right thing, and that’s Sarah.

“I hope that the entire team stays safe and happy, I wish them all the best and hope that all their dreams come true,” concluded Breda.