BALANCE… It is what most people are searching for, and is probably the key to a happy and successful life.

Physiotherapist and rider/producer Hannah Gordon seems to have found hers; working three days a week and dedicating the rest of her time to producing Connemaras, Irish Draughts and sport horses to the highest level.

“My mom is a Corcoran so her family have always been involved in horses; her brother is Padraic Corcoran,” Hannah, who is featured elsewhere in this paper after a busy weekend competing and judging, tells The Irish Field.

“My dad’s family has always been involved too, so we were hopping onto ponies and climbing into the saddle in front of my dad pretty much before we could walk.

“It was always show jumping when we were young, if you’re from Co Mayo that tends to be what people do, so we grew up show jumping. My brother Jonathan rides internationally and has been on Irish teams; he is based out in Germany.

“My granddad was a big campaigner for me; he used to pick me up from school and, no matter the weather, because they had an indoor arena at their homeplace in Riverview in Crossmolina, I could go and ride my pony every day.

Liam Lynskey's Black Shadow ridden by Hannah Gordon to win the Connemara Performance Hunter class at the 2016 Dublin Horse Show \ Ruth Rogers

Two lives

“After I finished school, I went off to study physiotherapy in Limerick. Initially, I had intended to become a veterinary physio, but ended up not going down that route,” Hannah explained.

“I kind of like that I have two separate lives a little bit. You never get sick of the horses because you do something completely different three days a week and you never get tired of your job because you do the horses the other four days.

“After I qualified, I travelled over to the UK and worked for the NHS, but the pull of the horses was strong.

“At that stage, I was riding for Liam Lynskey. He lives a seven-minute drive from Knock Airport, so I would take a half-day every Friday and hop on a flight and be ready for the Connemara and Draught qualifiers on the Saturday.

“We had a great year, that first year in 2017. Black Shadow won the Connemara performance class in Dublin and DS Ballagh Bouncer won the Irish Draughts.

“After about 18 months, I decided to come home in May the following year. I spent the summer just riding and then, in the Autumn, my cousin told me about a job in Sligo. It was 20 hours a week in Sligo and she thought it might suit me. I applied and got it and I’m still here. It’s three days a week and it’s for a charity, the MS Therapy Centre, so it’s a really nice place to work.”

Hannah Gordon and Whitethorn Buachaill Bui at the Eventing Ireland Western Region Starter Series at Clare Equestrian \ Rynes Walker

Partnership

Hannah is synonymous now with Liam Lynskey’s yard. “I’ve built up a great partnership with Liam over the years. I’ve been riding Black Shadow since he was a youngster and I think he’s 20 now.

“My dad, Matt, and Liam have been friends for years. I had done a bit of showing with our own ponies and would do some catch riding, so Liam asked dad would I ride Black Shadow. I did and he was absolutely fantastic. I got the bug and I’ve been here ever since.

“Between Dad’s yard and Liam’s place these days, I probably have between eight and 10 horses and ponies in work. It’s funny because we have done a bit of a turnaround in the home yard. My dad would have always been predominantly sport horses and was known for being able to deal with the hardy ones, but now we have more and more of the Connemeras and Draughts in.

“He was sick last year – he had cancer - and we decided that, to make it a little easier for him as he recovered from the treatment, we would concentrate more on the ponies, just to try and make life simpler for this year at least.

“Dad and Liam are the same. They love nothing better than to go into a field of unbroken youngsters and pick something. I think they have both learned from one another; Liam has learned about the sport horses from dad and dad has learned about the showing from Liam. It has benefited both of them.

“Liam and dad are both very supportive of my riding. In this business I think you find a lot of people who think they know everything, but you never do. The more we learn, the more we realise how little we know.”

Dublin aims

“I have Liam’s Irish Draught stallion DS Ballagh Bouncer qualified for Dubin and I also have Dad’s Rock of Belass for the Connemara ridden class.

“We bought Rock of Belass from a friend of ours, Gerry Corcoran. Gerry kept him for Dad while he was going through his treatment - he knew Dad had his eye on him and I think it’s really nice that he did keep him and that he is going on to be lucky. He could have sold him many times and he didn’t and I appreciate that.

“When we went to Balmoral, a load of people that knew the story came to watch him. It was like a community showing up to support him which is very touching. I think they plan to be in Dublin too, and these are people who wouldn’t normally go to the Dublin show so it’s lovely that they are all behind him.

“Blackfort Major Melody is another young Connemara that I will ride in the next qualifier but I don’t think he’ll make it; he’s still very green but it will be a good experience for him.”

Happy ponies

“As a yard, I think we are very good at treating every animal as an individual. I’m very particular about the details; is this the right bit? The right saddle? Is there something we can do to make their life better? I think the more comfortable and happier they are, the more they enjoy their work and the easier it is for us.

“Ultimately, happier ponies are more successful ponies and the easier they are to sell. I’m not a big strong rider so if they don’t want to do their job, I’m not going to be able to change their mind. They have to want to do it for me.

“I have a sport horse Harvey Specter. He’s an eight-year-old; we rarely have them until that age so it’s nice that I can do all sorts with him from show jumping, eventing and he did the workers in Balmoral. He’s just a nice horse and I just enjoy him.

“We have a nice four-year-old called Zelensky; he was bred by Liam and Dad. Jonathan jumped his mother and she was a good jumper. Jonathan said he was putting her in foal and would they be interested, so Dad and Liam bought her and put her in foal and he is the result. He looks like he will be very nice.

“We also have a pony I bred called Nokio with Cathal McKeon Devany. I was looking out for someone to ride him and I noticed Cathal; he’s just so natural with them. The pony is a bit of a worrier but I thought Cathal won’t worry him at all.

“I left him until he was six years old and then I sent him over to Cathal and they are getting on great. They are now jumping 1.25m, I think they were a match made in heaven. Cathal made him and I couldn’t be happier with everything they’ve done with him.

“My husband Declan is a teacher and has no horses in his background. He has invested in a few but has little interest otherwise.

“As I’ve said, I have two different lives that run alongside each other, and it seems to be working out well!” she concluded.