THIS time last year, Co Wexford’s Maisie Adams spent 11 days in intensive care – having suffered lacerations to her spleen following a kick from a horse – while her just broken pony, Ravara Mohawk, was turned out in the field, awaiting her recovery.

Last Sunday at Cavan, the pair showed just how well they have gelled in the interim as they qualified for the 128cms championship at the Dublin Horse Show with the third of just three treble clears.

The six-year-old Welsh gelding has come on leaps and bounds in the past nine months or so according to the rider’s mother who purchased the bay gelding unbroken in November 2015.

“He couldn’t canter in a circle as he was so long and big-striding,” said Dale. “I rode him myself for a long time, just walking and trotting. He did a small bit of Pony Club activities but we always knew he was a jumper. It’s unbelievable how far they’ve come in such a short space of time and people at Cavan were congratulating us on our good buy and the fact that we have produced him ourselves. He is the happiest pony with a wonderful temperament.”

An artist specialising in animal portraits, Dale is married to Wexford veterinary surgeon Gary Adams and today they, and Maisie (11), will be at Balmoral Show as the youngest member of the family, Lauren (nine), has qualified two ponies for the inaugural staging of the Under 10s Grand Prix. The pair, who were both previously campaigned by Maisie in Pony Club eventing as well as show jumping, are Dimples Dilema and Killaloe Gypsy.

The quartet, and ponies, were due to spend last night in Castlewellan with Gary’s parents, John and Margery. “It was John who alerted us to the new championship and he is delighted that Lauren qualified,” reported Dale whose own riding career may have to be put on hold as the girls have such a busy schedule.