JOHNNY Burcher-Holohan, pictured, has achieved the impressive feat of breaking his own hunting pony and taking him out for a successful day - and at the tender age of seven.

This 128cm three-year-old pony is called Riffle and Johnny bought him himself with his own money as a yearling when he went to see him tied up in a housing estate.

He took him home and broke him himself during the summer, along with his other three-year-old pony Duncan.

Last weekend was his and Riffle’s debut at the Lismore Harriers hunt ride, where he jumped absolutely everything.

His plan with Riffle and Duncan is to hunt them all winter and then aim them for the four-year-old show jumping classes next year along with his other pony Polly, who will go in the U8s’ and U10s’ classes.

Johnny’s dad Seamus Holohan and mum Lizzie Burcher competed to international level show jumping for Ireland and run a successful farm in Fethard in Tipperary called Hawthorn Stud, where they breed and produce sport horses for all levels and disciplines.

“We all hunt together as a family throughout the winter,” Burcher explained. “We work long hard days with lots of animals and no staff, where Johnny is always by our side watching, learning and helping.

“Johnny was at his first show at four days old. He has spent every day on the yard watching me and his dad handle and break youngstock and we are so proud that he has done his own ponies this year.

“Day to day, you’ll find him either riding ponies, tinkering with his Massey 135 (also purchased with his own money) or checking livestock with his lurcher, Poacher, somewhere on the farm.

“He is the epitome of a wild outdoor boy who works incredibly hard, he is a real little horseman.”

Burcher’s own mother Heather is from a strong hunting and national hunt background and has had a huge influence on Johnny in relation to hunting. Holohan’s mother Polly rode for Ieland at the Olympics in eventing, and also goes hunting with the family. Clearly talent runs in the family!