LUCY Ferris, 14, is Eventing Ireland’s Youth Ambassador for 2026. Youth members were invited to apply for the role in November of last year, and were required to have at least one season’s eventing experience, to compete on a regular basis and to enjoy content creation and communicating through social media. In return for a year’s free membership, the youth ambassador will ‘promote the sport in a positive but realistic light, and provide a role model for younger members’.

Last year’s ambassador David Nyhan competed at his first international events while in the role, as well as creating reels with fellow youth riders and documenting Eventing Ireland pathway training days.

On being awarded the role for 2026, Lucy said: “I really enjoyed following the journeys of Molly [O’Connor], Kate [Walsh] and David in previous years and found their insights very helpful. I would love to encourage more riders my age to join Eventing Ireland, as I have found it so welcoming and I’d like to show it’s not just for older riders.

“One of my 2026 goals is to compete at an event in the UK. I travelled to Scone in Scotland last August as a spectator when Abbey [Lucy’s sister] was on the trip with Tiggy’s Trust and I have my sights set on riding there this year. I would also like to compete at my first international in Ireland.”

Lucy enjoyed a successful year in 2025, during which she competed at a British Dressage Home Nations and finished second at her first-ever EI National Championships at EI80 level.