AVA McNulty from Lahinch in Co Clare had a welcome opportunity to experience a different aspect of the equestrian world recently.

On break after finishing first year studying Equine Science in the University of Limerick, Ava was asked by Angela McGahern to help with the Young Eventhorse Series and the Irish Draught and Connemara qualifiers for Dublin.

“I’m not really sure how it came about but I’m delighted she asked me because I thought it’d be nice to see all different types of horses, normally I’m around show jumpers, and it was a great experience,” Ava said.

“They needed help with the admin side of things, giving out numbers and, doing entries and putting in the scoring for the conformation and the flatwork.

“I think the experience is going to be really beneficial in the future and I also got asked to work for the RDS this year helping with the score sheets and scribing for some judges, so it has opened up some great new opportunities for me too.

“I started show jumping when I was about seven then I got my first pony and I was competitive up until I was 16. I also did minimus on the ponies as well. I have huge interest in breeding and AI and I’d like to get into something like that eventually but would also like to go away and work in a yard abroad for a few years to gain a bit of experience while I’m young.

“Working with Angela really kind of opened my eyes to other sides of the sport that are important as well. When you’re in one discipline, you don’t really see what goes on in the others. It was great to meet new people and it opened a few more doors which was brilliant. I’d definitely recommend it.”