“WHO knew what this year would bring for us?” So says Michelle Begley as she reflects on a season which culminated with her horse Ganesh contesting the FEI Dressage World Championships in Aachen, ridden by Kevin Acres.

“When I bought him, this wasn’t part of the plan,” she continues. “Kevin thought he would be a good teacher for me, but he didn’t expect him to keep going at that level. I never thought for one minute that Aachen was where we’d land, but we took the opportunity and it paid off.”

Originally from Drimnagh in Dublin, Begley didn’t come from an equestrian background, but she says she always loved animals and particularly horses. Through a friend, she had the chance to enjoy some summer Sunday treks in Pine Forest as a teenager, later taking lessons at a riding school in Greenhills on the old Naas road.

“Like a lot of others in the 80s, my now husband Paul and I emigrated to Boston at 20,” she explained. The couple spent five years living in the USA, returning to Ireland in 1991 to join friends in the expansion of their kitchen business. They were married in 1993 and went on to have three daughters.

“Time flew by while we were busy running the business and bringing up our family, until a casual conversation with a good friend through work led to an invitation to his Longhill Stud in Tyrellspass. That visit resulted in me reluctantly sitting on a horse for the first time in nearly 30 years. ‘Chester’ was a gentle, forgiving cob. I immediately felt safe, and I decided there and then to return to taking lessons. I had forgotten the feeling of joy and connection you get from being around horses, and I was hooked!”

Over the next few months, Begley began to ride an Irish Sport Horse called Cami, whom she purchased in 2021, and the combination moved to Greenogue Equestrian in Baldonnell a year later. “Greenogue is so close to home that I can be there as often as I want, and it’s such a great place with top-class facilities and so much to offer. It’s also where I met the amazing team of Lucy McCarthy, Kevin Acres and Abby McDaid, along with the fellow riders with whom I’ve since become friends.”

Sleepless nights

“I began having dressage lessons with Kevin and, when he one day suggested I should try to ride other horses to gain experience, I naively asked him if I could ride Ganesh. I’ll never forget the look on Kevin’s face. As someone who’s never normally stuck for words, he was speechless. It took him about two weeks to get his head around the idea, but he finally agreed and it was a brilliant experience for me. It was also around this time that I found out Ganesh was being sold.”

Michelle Begley and Kevin Acres pictured with Ganesh at Hartpury CDI3*

Ganesh is a 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz out of a Partout mare, whom Con McCarthy initially bought for Acres to ride. The combination were Dressage Ireland national champions in 2023, a year which also saw them achieve their then-best international result of third in the Grand Prix Special on 66.021% at the Lipica CDI3* in Slovenia.

“I couldn’t believe Ganesh might be leaving the yard,” says Begley. “I thought I could learn so much from him, and so much faster than me trying to teach Cami from scratch.

"I never thought I would be lucky enough to own one horse, never mind two, but after some sleepless nights and plenty of consideration, we agreed to buy him. I loved to watch Kevin and Ganesh, so we agreed that Kevin would teach me the basics while keeping Ganesh going at his level. It feels like this was the perfect balance for everyone.”

As this balance evolved, Begley agreed that Acres could take Ganesh to the 2025 Dressage Ireland national championships, where they were crowned national champions for a second time.

“This brought back the excitement of competing again,” says Begley, “so we decided that Kevin would try for a CDI.”

Having not competed internationally since June of 2023, Acres and Ganesh returned to the level at Hartpury CDI3* in March of this year. Despite finishing seventh in both the Grand Prix and the Special, they didn’t achieve the Aachen Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) of 66%, but they went on to contest Hickstead CDI3* in May, where their scores increased. Then, at Wellington CDI3* in June, they secured the first of the two MERs necessary to be considered eligible for Aachen selection.

“It really came down to the wire,” says Begley of the World Championship selection process. “It was a nail-biting few weeks.” Ireland’s representative at the Tokyo Olympics and one of the highest-scoring riders eligible to go to Aachen, Abi Lyle, withdrew from selection contention in early July, at roughly the same time that Acres and Ganesh travelled to Hartpury once more for their last opportunity to gain their second MER.

Not only did Acres and Ganesh succeed in fulfilling their goal, but they also earned a season’s best score and placing in the Grand Prix Special, finishing fifth on 68.128%.

It takes a village

“When the news came through that Kevin and Ganesh had been selected to represent Ireland in Aachen, everyone was elated,” says Begley. “Kevin’s dream was coming true, and I felt so happy to be a little part of that. Then the preparations started and the support team began to grow.”

Aachen was a championship debut for both Acres and Ganesh, with the rider also acting as Ireland’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremony, and the combination earned the second-highest team score of 66.289%. They were also the only combination on the Irish team to be based in Ireland.

“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone that made the journey to be part of such an unbelievable event. Words cannot explain the pride, nerves and anticipation felt standing in the viewing area watching this amazing pair head into the arena as Irish pathfinders on such a huge stage. Without this support, it wouldn’t have been possible or nearly as memorable. As Kevin’s mum Susan says; ‘it takes a village’.”

So what’s next for Begley, Acres and Ganesh? “We’re keeping our options open by continuing to train with the European Championships around the corner [which will take place in August 2027 in Denmark]. We’re looking forward to taking whatever opportunities lie ahead.

“I’m still on him two or three times a week just trying to progress a little bit.

"He’s like driving a Ferrari after getting out of a little Micra, but Kevin feels that he’s come on so well because he has an easier time with me. That balance between us seems to work really well.

“If I had to offer advice to someone else considering ownership, I’d say grab the opportunity, jump, and do everything you have to do. I’m only in this the last seven, maybe eight years, and I just turned 60 so I’m very late to the whole thing, but I’m so glad I took the leap of faith when I did. It’s never too late to try something new.

“As my children grow up and are moving on with their lives, I’ve found something that I hope I can continue with for many years to come, and just to watch Kevin and Ganesh; it’s magic to see it.”