THE Killinick Branch of the Irish Pony Club has an internet sensation among its membership following the widely-shared video of six-year-old Faye Doran in the ride phase of last weekend’s Agria IPC national Minimus championships.

Along with Shannon Griffith who held on to her 1,400 ride points, Faye was on the same team as her brothers Scott (10) and Hugo (eight) and actually rode the same pony as Scott, the Grade A mare Canoy, an 18-year-old dun who she started competing under Showjumping Ireland rules at the start of the 2024 season.

Having been used to riding in an enclosed area in Fledgling competitions at Fun Minimus events, Faye relished being out on the main track at Killossery Lodge last Sunday. While she sensibly took all the option routes and fences, Faye didn’t have a single stop or run-out and, according to her mother Adelaide came across the finish line “absolutely thrilled with herself”!

“There’s great camaraderie between all the riders and parents in Minimus and Faye was cheered over every fence, while some of the other kids ran along beside her. My husband Padhraic and I breed thoroughbred flat horse and knew nothing about Minimus until our eldest son Max got involved about five years ago.

“He’s now 12, too old for Minimus, and has moved on to Junior Tetrathlon. He was on the Irish squad who last month competed at Moreton Morrell where he rode the unraced thoroughbred KHS Jackpot who’s by Ocovango. Max rode Canoy when he won the boys’ individual Minimus in England last year and was on the winning Irish team in the international competition.

“Scott was delighted with his clear on Saturday as that’s the third year in a row that he’s gone clear. Hugo lost 120 points on BBS Silver Enigma but she’s done very little cross-country. She’s a Grade A jumper as well and Hugo rode her in the Under 10s’ championship at Balmoral Show last month.”