AT the 2014 Dublin Horse Show, Countess April Merveldt was presented with a show award by the Royal Dublin Society in recognition of her long association with and distinguished contribution to the Irish pony. Her daughters, Lorli and Peetzy, recorded numerous successes at both the Spring Show and Horse Show.

April was one of the first members of the Irish Show Pony Society (now the Irish Pony Society), developing the working hunter pony section. In 1979 she was chef d’equipe and trainer to the Irish team which took part in, and won, the first European pony working hunter championship in Bavaria, Germany. Throughout the 1980s, she continued her involvement in this role, bringing the first Irish working hunter pony teams to Peterborough.

Having raised her children, April returned to the saddle on her trusty Draught steed Enniskeane Count (Britvic). She was an active member of Oakleaf Riding club winning many prizes herself while helping her fellow club members achieve their full potential. She was winner of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ Lancelot award in 2006.

In 2007, April’s granddaughter, Alice Higgins, won the ridden Connemara championship and the Connemara equitation championship at the RDS with Grey Victory. Four years later, another Higgins granddaughter, Emily, was having difficulty doing a rein back with Grey Victory. At the age of 83, April returned to the saddle and, a few minutes later, the pony was doing the rein back. Emily and Grey Victory went on to win the Connemara performance championship with the rider also landing the 14hh working hunter class on Ardcon Farley.