WINNING the HOYS Puissance is my proudest moment so far,” says Tipperary man Andrew Hodgins about his recent victory at the Horse of the Year Show in the NEC in Birmingham riding John Glynn’s Shanaclough Luichew (Luidam x Coolcornan Wood).

Hodgins’s partnership with the now 10-year-old chesnut gelding, who was bred by Jill Twomey, mother of Irish international show jumper Billy, began five years ago on the recommendation of Gary Cusack. “Luichew is a really special horse with many excellent qualities, but he is a sensitive horse,” says Hodgins. “Thankfully, we clicked pretty much straight away.”

The combination has earned a string of enviable results in recent years, among which were third places in the Puissance at Dublin and London in 2025. They returned to Dublin this time round to take fourth, but prior to that they fulfilled one of Hodgins’ ambitions by competing at the Hickstead Derby meeting in June, where they finished fifth of the 25 starters in the Speed Derby.

Then at HOYS, the pair dislodged just a single brick in the fourth round at 2.18m to share the victory with Puissance specialists and double Dublin winners Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z.

Hodgins and Luichew have earned a reputation as Puissance specialists with a slightly unorthodox style, but their talent for the class initially came as a surprise. “It was by pure chance that I first jumped Luichew in a Puissance,” he explained.

“I made a last-minute decision to go to Corrandulla Grand Prix show. There was four minutes left to the close of entries, when I saw there were only four starters in the class. I thought we would only do two or three rounds and leave it; I never imagined that we’d win and set a new Connaught record on our first attempt.

“I don’t train specifically for the Puissance at home,” he continues. “I just train conventionally, keeping jumps small and emphasising suppleness, fitness and rideability. I try to focus on rhythm and accuracy to the wall, and Luichew loves the class.

"He has the will and heart to be a winner, and his bravery gives me so much confidence on the approach.

“I know he will always commit to the effort, regardless of whether we clear it or not. I’m blessed too that I’m under no pressure from the owner. John loves his horses more than anyone I’ve ever met and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity to ride Luichew.”

Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew shared victory in the Ripon Select Foods Puissance at HOYS 2026 \ 1st Class Images

A practical approach

Thornhill Sport Horses, Hodgins’ base on his parents’ farm, has grown organically to include 20 stables and a newly-constructed outdoor arena. “Our facilities are basic but practical,” he says. “It’s quite a traditional farmyard set up, where the cattle and a jumping yard exist together. The new arena has made all the difference and it’s great to be able to ride on a good surface regardless of the weather. I have plans to develop the yard further, to better the horses’ education and hopefully achieve more in the ring.

“My family has always been involved with horses, and my brother and sister both rode too. My mother’s family were farmers and, in the past, they would have had a working horse on the farm. On my father’s side, they had horses for generations, to back and sell and compete. He was fortunate enough to win some big classes in Dublin. I rode ponies as a child, but it wasn’t until I was in secondary school that I caught the bug and realised I wanted to do it full-time. My parents insisted that I got a degree, which I did, but then I chased an equestrian career.

“My support team is small but efficient,” he continues. “I mainly work alone, but I have tremendous support around me. My parents are great supporters, allowing me to operate out of their yard, and on show days they keep things running here, feeding and looking after horses any time I am gone. Dad is great to assess horses and advise on how to get the best out of them, especially if they are in any way difficult.

“My wife Aoife is my biggest supporter. She is always there for me on a bad day, on those days where we all need someone. She helps with the business side of things, and she loves a day at a show.

“We have a two-year-old boy, Glen, and she looks after him as well as running her own business. She’s also the owner of an exciting three-year-old stallion by Cornado NRW.”

Andrew Hodgins and Sandra, winners of the 2024 Cavan Indoor Derby \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Looking forward

Hodgins also counts the Cavan Indoor Derby in 2024 as “a special night”, having won it with his own mare Sandra (Lux Z x Sandro Boy). “It’s really only in the last seven or eight years that the good results have started to happen,” he continues. “Thankfully though, I have a number of future stars to look forward to.”

Among them are two of Luichew’s siblings, a five-year-old full-brother and a four-year-old half-sister by Carrick Quidam De Revel. Like the Puissance specialist, both are owned by John Glynn and destined for show jumping careers. “They both look very promising for the stage they’re at,” says Hodgins.

Another to watch is the seven-year-old stallion Konig (Zinedine x Cornado I), who is owned by Oak Lane Sport Horses. Hodgins began competing him as a four-year-old and the combination qualified for Dublin the following season.

On their last outing together in September 2025, Konig won a 1.35m class in Coilog, before the ride was passed to Clem McMahon while Hodgins was recovering from injury.

“He has only recently returned to me and, all going well, the plan is for him to be with me for the foreseeable future.”

Oak Lane Sport Horses are also the owners of OLSH Conthablue (Conthargos x Chacco Blue), who was second in the three-year-old loose jumping class at the 2026 Dublin Horse Show and who will begin his ridden career with Hodgins, while he counts Kavanagh Sport Horses’ Calcourt Dynamic (Eldorado VD Zeshoeke TN x Lasino) among his current string too. “She’s very new to me,” he says of the nine-year-old mare, “but she’s already jumping at 1.30m with plenty more to give.”

When asked what his goals are for the future, in the short-term Hodgins has his focus firmly set on a return to the London International Horse Show with Shanaclough Luichew.

“I’d love to go back to London, especially off the back of our HOYS win. Next year, I hope to compete all the aforementioned horses in their respective classes and, while international shows have been new experiences for me in the last two years, I definitely have some more on my bucket list for the future.”

Hodgins’ enthusiasm for the sport is evident throughout our conversation, and he says: “My main bread and butter is the production of young horses; backing and sales prep for my customers.

“Show jumping is where my heart is and where I want to be, but I’m self-employed and self-financed. To me, being able to do my passion for my career is my biggest achievement.”