Margie McLoone

IN the spring, the Irish Pony Club was invited by its counterpart in the United States to send four members, aged between 16 and 25, on the International Foxhunting Exchange taking place this year in Kentucky.

Those applying had to have achieved their C+ Test at least with preference given to older members with strong hunting experience on a variety of horses. Applicants were asked about the number of days they had hunted over three seasons, whether they had hunted unfamiliar horses and how they supported their branches in general.

Such criteria meant that there were only 15 applicants but still a tough selection process had to be undertaken before Jennifer Byrne (Ward Union), Kevin Finn (Araglen), Caoimhe Murphy (Co Limerick) and Marina Williams (Louth) were announced as the travelling quartet. Former Tipperary District Commissioner Clare Corballis was chaperone, and unofficial photographer, for the trip.

Finn (18), who, with Murphy (18), began studying at the University of Limerick this semester, wasn’t just the only male on the Irish panel but on the entire exchange as the home team comprised four female riders as did the British squad of one Pony Club member from both Scotland and Wales and two from England.

Byrne (20), who is studying Business at the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown, was also speaking on behalf of her fellow travellers when discussing their stay in the States.

“We got to experience great days’ hunting with the Camargo Hunt over rolling countryside with lots of woods, the Iroquois, where we had our best run after a coyote, and the Woodford Hounds where we were reminded of hunting at home with rain! The sun came out again on our last day which we spent following the Clear Creek Beagles.

“Both the Woodford Hounds and the Clear Creek Beagles met in the famous Shaker Village, Pleasant Hill while the Camargo Hunt met at their clubhouse at the Kennels in Burlington. With all hunts, they split their field up into jumping and non-jumping.

“We were very surprised that, compared to home, so few young people were out hunting but they do organise junior hunts at different times. Although the four of us hunt a lot, Marina (21), who has finished college, is the only one who is an actual member of a hunt and she wore her Louth members’ hunt coat on all three days.

“We were mounted on experienced hunters supplied for the Camargo meet by hunt members and for the Woodford and Iroquois meets by Martha and Ashley Johnson.

“After our day with the Woodford Hounds, all 12 of us on the Exchange programme, plus chaperones, were invited to dinner at the home of Michelle Primm whose husband Daniel was a former Master of the North Tipperary and Ormond Hunt.

ENJOYED GREAT TRIPS

“We also enjoyed great trips including one to Ashford Stud (Coolmore), now the new home of Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion American Pharoah. The head stallion man there, Richard Barry, used to hunt with the Ward Union. We also visited Gainesway Farm, home of the 2014-2015 leading North American sire Tapit.

“We got to tour the Kentucky Horse Park Museum and the Kentucky Horse Park grounds where course builder Mick Costello took us around the four-star track on a Gator and showed us where the fences would be for next year’s Rolex. “We then enjoyed lunch at the US Pony Clubs’ Head Office situated in the Horse Park before we got to watch show jumping that evening at the Kentucky International Horse Show. Our final evening concluded with a Halloween party hosted by the Woodford Hounds.

“The hospitality we experienced was second to none and once again we would like to thank all those who looked after us so well in the States. Many thanks too to our chaperone, Clare Corballis, who ensured we all had an amazing trip, our branch district commissioners and the Irish Pony Club for selecting us and allowing us to travel and lastly to the US Pony Club for hosting us. It was a great trip and one which the four of us will always remember.”

A Test holder Byrne said she had remained a member of the IPC this year to get on the International Foxhunting Exchange and would be tempted to continue to do so if there was another trip in the offing.

In the meantime, her studies allow her hunt each Friday with the Ward Union while, since her return, she has helped prepare thoroughbred youngstock for the sales and was working on the rostrum at the Tattersalls Ireland National Hunt Sale.