AT just 11 years old, Gracie Kelly has achieved more than what many pony riders would dare to dream of – four ponies and a horse qualified for the Dublin Horse Show. The feat is even more remarkable given she does not have horsey parents, with her mother Melissa admitting they are ‘learning as we go’.

From Duncormick in Wexford, Gracie’s pony adventures began very early on with her mum recalling a lead rein outing while she was still in a nappy on a pony introduced to the family by her grandad after her older brother, Jack, now 17, began to show an interest.

Developed

“My father went to a sale in Wales and ended up buying him this pony and that’s how it all started,” Melissa said. “I have never ridden, my husband had never ridden, Jack did pony club but wasn’t into show jumping. His interest developed more into producing and buying and selling and that’s how we keep the whole thing going now – with Jack working away behind the scenes along with my husband Diarmuid and his father Jimmy. They probably have five or six every time there’s a Goresbridge horse sale on.

“One of the ponies Gracie’s getting all the success on Jack actually found on Done Deal for €200 and he broke it, and she was the only one to ever ride, and that was actually in the London Horse Show at Christmas and came third.

“With Gracie, she started over in the Railway Yard at Martina Doran’s horse riding school, and then we put an arena in a home. I have a very good friend here, Ciaran McGrath, and he came here and was doing lessons with her.

“Then when things started to get kind of a bit more serious and we were going to qualifiers we started getting lessons with Michael Condon. She’s been with Michael for the last two years, and I’d say she’ll stay with him forever. He really changed everything for her, they are an amazing team.

Gracie Kelly with Goldengrove Telltale and Michael Ryan

“She went from her first pony Barney to Bellgrove Beauty, the one Jack found on Done Deal, and that one really made her a rider. She made it to Dublin with her last year in the working hunter and now this year it’s in the 128 Grade As. She also won the 128 six and seven-year-old qualifier in Barnadown this year on Gary and Cassie Murphy’s Lolly Do after just riding it a handful of times which was unbelievable.

“Then there is Goldengrove Telltale, the 13.2hh we bought as a four-year-old and it had never seen a pole. She had it in the equitation class at Dublin last year as a five-year-old and qualified it for this year in the six and seven year-olds. Then there is the five-year-old 12.2hh Goldengrove Roslyn, which she qualified for the junior equitation.

“In the COH she qualified Hermies VH Bergerhof Z, who we bought from Karl Dore - another person who gives her so much time. The horse is 16hh and she came third in the qualifier on her, and since then she won a horse class in Mullingar with 120 riders in it, and the next day qualified for the lady league final winning a class with over 100 in it . She also won the 1.20m Karlswood class at Adamstown Show.

The very next weekend, Gracie and Bellgrove Beauty were on the winning Leinster 128s team that won the Cavan home pony international at Cavan. Not to be outdone, her younger brother Alby (8), also went to Cavan and was selected for the under 10s Leinster team that also finished first.

“It’s brilliant because I have no background in it and I am just trying to learn as I go,” Melissa said. “I must have rung the RDS and SJI 10 times to check I did everything right with the entries. We’re blessed in the sense that we have so many good people in our corner. Ever since Michael Condon came into our life, she started to have success. She could be up there twice a week in the rain and he’s always there when she goes into the ring, he doesn’t leave the pocket and he’s there when she comes out. He does so much for her.

“She just never stops. I wanted her to go on her school tour, she said she would have four ponies ridden in that time so she didn’t go. She is the first up every day mucking out and she doesn’t crave the limelight; it’s the ponies and making progress that she loves. But she has the talent so we will do everything in our power to keep it going and that’s where the family effort comes in. We miss a lot of occasions and our friends probably think we are mad but that’s the choice you make.”

Gracie Kelly and Lolly Do qualifying at Barnadown \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

Gracie Kelly – In her words

Can you tell us why you love horses?

I love being around horses from taking care of them to grooming them and then riding them at shows. I have only really ever had young ponies so I feel really happy when I see them progressing knowing that I have done it myself. I don’t really play any other sports, all I want to do is ride my ponies or clean the yard. It’s all I think about in school and most of my friends are from show jumping too.

What is your ultimate goal?

I want to get on a European team and represent Ireland

If you could train with any rider, who would it be?

Mikey Pender, I got to shadow him for a day in Dublin last year and it was amazing. I follow everything he does. I had a lesson with him before and would love the chance to have another one on my horse. If I could ride for anyone when I’m older it would be MarionHughes or Ger o Neill.

If you could ride any horse, which would it be?

I would love to ride United Touch S; he is a 14-year-old stallion ridden by Richard Vogel

Tell us about the people who help you..

Michael Condon is my trainer and he is there all the time. He makes everything simple. Karl Dore helped me when I qualified for London and helped me there. Louise Codd keeps my ponies riding really well. Leah Murphy works in our yard and helps us at shows; we couldn’t do it without her. Jason Higgins and Aoife Dooley always let us use their lovely arenas to train. Mary Kehoe is always there for me too. My mam does everything for me and always has nice ponies for me.

Tell us about your ponies and horse you are taking to the RDS and what are each of their personalities and special traits?

Belgrove Beauty is my number one, I have had her since she was three. My brother broke her and no-one else has ever ridden her, I have done it on my own . Goldengrove Telltale is six, I have him since he was four and he had never jumped a pole. I am hoping to do top track with him next year. Goldengrove Roslyn is a five-year-old. She loves to jump so I hope my brother will get to do top track with her. She is Telltale’s full sister and they are inseparable. I got them from Claire Scott and she follows everything we do so it’s so nice they are going so well. Lolly Do is a seven-year-old pony that I got to ride for our friends, she really loves to jump and is so sweet. Hermies is my horse, I haven’t had her long and she has already won me three rugs. She is so speedy and loves to turn. I can’t wait to do shows abroad with her!

What does mean to you to have qualified five for the Dublin Horse Show?

I can’t believe I have five ponies going to Dublin, I feel so lucky. The qualifiers are so hard we started all our prep from January so it has been a lot of hard work and I know how grateful I should be.